CORRECTION: Coast Guard rescue crews continue search for possible survivors of capsized migrant vessel off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic

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U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Contact: Coast Guard Puerto Rico PA Office
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Coast Guard rescue crew continue search for possible survivors of capsized migrant vessel off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic

CORRECTION: The migrant boat capsized in waters off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos rescues a survivor of a migrant capsized boat during the afternoon of Dec. 6, 2018, in waters just off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. The crew of the commercial tanker Sea Board Ranger rescued 20 other migrants after locating the capsized vessel earlier in the morning. Coast Guard rescue crews continue to search Dec. 8, 2018 for seven other migrants who reportedly were also onboard the capsized vessel.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos rescues a survivor of a migrant capsized boat during the afternoon of Dec. 6, 2018, in waters just off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. The crew of the commercial tanker Sea Board Ranger rescued 20 other migrants after locating the capsized vessel earlier in the morning. Coast Guard rescue crews continue to search Dec. 8, 2018 for seven other migrants who reportedly were also onboard the capsized vessel.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews continue searching Friday for possible survivors of a capsized migrant boat in waters just off Isla Saona, Dominican Republic.

So far, 21 people have been rescued, while seven others are reportedly still missing

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan overheard a VHF Channel 16 radio transmission at approximately 2p.m. Thursday from the commercial tanker Sea Board Ranger, requesting assistance to find for persons in the water, approximately six nautical miles east of Isla Saona, Dominican Republic.  The Sea Board Ranger crew further relayed that they located a capsized vessel at approximately 4 a.m. Thursday and safely recovered 20 migrants from the water.  Survivors reported that there were 28 people aboard the makeshift vessel.  Shortly thereafter, Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a request for assistance from Dominican Republic authorities.

Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos and launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft to search for possible survivors.

The cutter Tezanos arrived on scene located and rescued a woman from the water Thursday afternoon, while the crew of the Coast Guard helicopter also located the capsized vessel.

Coast Guard rescue crews participating in the search are:

  • Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos
  • Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser
  • Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen
  • Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry from Air Station Miami
  • Coast Guard HH-C-130 Hercules from Air Station Clearwater, Fla.

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-USCG-