Tragedy struck the Caribbean waters when a packed migrant vessel went under near Dominican shores. The rickety boat carried roughly 40 desperate souls chasing dreams in Puerto Rico before disaster hit. Rescue teams pulled 17 survivors from the churning sea while four bodies floated nearby. Another 20 passengers vanished beneath the waves and remain missing.
Dominican navy crews fished 10 locals and seven Haitians from the wreckage. Among those who survived the deadly crossing was a young child. The victims had crammed aboard one of those dangerous yola boats that smugglers use for human cargo. These makeshift vessels get slapped together from cheap wood and fiberglass without meeting basic safety standards.
Desperate families fork over massive sums reaching $7,000 per person for the risky journey. The smuggling route connects the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico across treacherous waters. Hispaniola island gets shared between the Dominican Republic and troubled Haiti next door. Maritime authorities report surging numbers of illegal crossings during recent years as people flee poverty and violence.
Dominican navy crews fished 10 locals and seven Haitians from the wreckage. Among those who survived the deadly crossing was a young child. The victims had crammed aboard one of those dangerous yola boats that smugglers use for human cargo. These makeshift vessels get slapped together from cheap wood and fiberglass without meeting basic safety standards.
Desperate families fork over massive sums reaching $7,000 per person for the risky journey. The smuggling route connects the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico across treacherous waters. Hispaniola island gets shared between the Dominican Republic and troubled Haiti next door. Maritime authorities report surging numbers of illegal crossings during recent years as people flee poverty and violence.
