A makeshift boat carrying about 60 people capsized around 11 p.m. Sunday roughly 10 miles off Mona Island in the Mona Passage after a reported machete altercation injured several passengers. The violent fight aboard the overcrowded vessel caused it to overturn in the dark waters, throwing dozens into the sea. A civilian boat later spotted four people in the water around noon and alerted authorities, triggering a multi-agency response. The U.S. Coast Guard joined forces with Puerto Rico police, Customs and Border Protection, and partners from the Dominican Republic to launch the rescue operation. Crews managed to pull at least 40 people from the water alive while recovering two bodies. Search efforts continued into Monday evening as teams scoured the area for any remaining survivors. The incident underscores the extreme dangers faced by those attempting the perilous crossing in this stretch of ocean.

Officials described the scene as chaotic and life-threatening once the boat went under. Many of the passengers had already been injured in the machete fight before the vessel flipped, complicating the rescue in open water. The rapid coordination among American and Dominican teams allowed the bulk of the known survivors to be brought to safety relatively quickly. Two people were confirmed deceased and their bodies recovered during the ongoing search. The Mona Passage has long been known for risky journeys by people fleeing hardship, and this latest tragedy adds to that grim record. Rescuers remained on scene Monday as they worked to account for everyone who had been aboard the original craft. The full scale of the injuries and the precise trigger of the machete fight are still under investigation.