At least 4 dead, 20 missing after boat sinks off Dominican Republic

Dominican authorization says 17 different refugees and migrants rescued from the vessel heading for Puerto Rico, a US territory.

Four refugees and migrants person died and astir 20 were missing aft their vessel capsized disconnected the seashore of the Dominican Republic successful the Caribbean, authorities said, arsenic Haitians and Dominicans proceed to instrumentality life-threatening risks to marque the crossing to what they anticipation is simply a amended life.

The Dominican civilian defence authorization was quoted by AFP quality bureau arsenic saying connected Friday that 17 different radical were rescued from the boat, which was carrying astir 40 radical and headed for Puerto Rico, a United States territory.

The Caribbean nation’s navy said it had rescued 10 Dominicans and 7 Haitians. A kid was among the survivors.

So-called “yola” migrant boats, specified arsenic the 1 that ran into trouble, are constructed from wood oregon fibreglass and bash not comply with information regulations, according to authorities.

Refugees and migrants wage arsenic overmuch arsenic $7,000 for a one-way travel to Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic, which shares the land of Hispaniola with crisis-torn Haiti.

Illegal migration from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico has been a increasing improvement successful the past decade.

In 2022, astatine slightest 5 radical drowned and different 66 were rescued successful an incidental involving a suspected quality smuggling vessel adjacent the uninhabited land of Mona, westbound of Puerto Rico.

Mona Island, a quality reserve, is located betwixt the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and has, implicit the years, been utilized by smugglers carrying radical betwixt the two. Those connected that way are typically Dominican oregon Haitian.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies