U.S. Coast Guard and Dominican Navy rescue 20 migrants from sinking boat

San Juan, Puerto Rico.- The U.S. Coast Guard in San Juan, in collaboration with the Dominican Republic Naval Force, rescued 20 Dominican migrants from a sinking boat in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a report released Thursday.

The Coast Guard’s HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft first spotted the distressed vessel on Monday, located approximately 30 nautical miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Samaná, Dominican Republic. The migrants were seen signaling for help as their boat began to sink.

In response, the Coast Guard dispatched a vessel from San Juan, while the Dominican Naval Force sent its Capella boat to assist in the rescue. Upon arrival, both forces provided 18 life jackets to the group, which included 18 men and two women. The migrants were successfully rescued and handed over to Dominican authorities.