The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued 49 people and recovered three bodies after a makeshift vessel capsized near Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
The vessel overturned late Sunday, about 10 miles off the uninhabited island in the Mona Passage. Survivors told authorities that 62 people had been aboard, leaving 10 still missing as the search continued.
Coast Guard crews and partner agencies launched a major search-and-rescue operation. Dramatic footage showed helicopters and boats reaching people in the water and carrying survivors to safety.
Officials said the vessel capsized after a fight broke out onboard. The Coast Guard reported that one passenger attacked others with a machete, causing panic and prompting people to jump into the water.
A passing vessel also helped rescue four people before Coast Guard crews arrived. The majority of those aboard were believed to be migrants from the Dominican Republic, with two believed to be from Haiti.
The rescued survivors were brought ashore and transferred to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further investigation.
Search teams continued looking for the remaining missing people in waters around Mona Island, as authorities worked to determine exactly what happened aboard the vessel.
