
At least five persons, including an adolescent, lost their lives as yet another one of these jerry-built open boats apparently capsized off the south coast of the Dominican Republic near Guayacanes in southeastern San Pedro de Macoris province.
According to authorities, some 43 persons were rescued, many of them by local fishermen who made several trips out and back to bring survivors to the shore.
Dominican Navy and other craft also took place in the effort. The incident took place Saturday, 27 July 2024, in the early morning. So far, the authorities have recovered five bodies, two women and five males.
Personal accounts of the tragic events were given to reporters. One of the heroic fishermen who saved many lives, Emilio Vasquez, related to reporters how difficult it was to rescue some people and be forced to leave others in the water because there was no more room in his little fishing boat.
A woman and mother of two girls told how she was able to survive by hanging onto a gasoline tank until she and her girls were rescued.
Each year, hundreds of people from Dominican beaches try to reach Puerto Rico. Many are foreigners, but most are Dominicans trying to reach United States territory.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
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Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
29 July 2024