Federal and state authorities in Puerto Rico are looking for possible survivors after a boat suspected to be carrying undocumented migrants overturned on Thursday near Desecheo Island, a national wildlife refuge off Puerto Rico’s western shores.
“They’re on the scene trying to rescue as many people as they can,” U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter spotted the capsized vessel and people in the water and Coast Guard watchstanders were alerted at about 11:47 am. The two federal agencies are collaborating with maritime units of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
