The Dominican Navy and the US Coast Guard have been searching for a boat carrying 80 undocumented Dominicans headed clandestinely for Puerto Rico. The search began when relatives became alarmed after not hearing from any of them. The boat departed on Friday, 30 July at around 7pm, according to a sister of one of the missing voyagers. Her brother, a farm hand, took a chance at making the dangerous crossing, seeking to better his income. Given the tropical wave and storms in the area, chances of the missing being found alive are slim.
El Caribe newspaper writes that official reports indicate that so far this year, at least 74 people attempting similar illegal crossings have been lost at sea this year.