Four people have died and around twenty are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of the Dominican Republic, authorities said. The vessel, carrying about 40 people — mostly Haitians and Dominicans — was bound for Puerto Rico, a US territory, according to Al Jazeera.
Seventeen survivors, including a child, were rescued. The boat, a fragile “yola” made of wood or fibreglass, did not meet safety standards.
Many from the Dominican Republic and neighbouring Haiti continue risking their lives on such journeys, paying up to $7,000 in hopes of reaching a better life. The dangerous route to Puerto Rico has become increasingly common in recent years, Al Jazeera reported.
