SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing rescued 10 migrants Wednesday and are searching for two others who reportedly remain missing, approximately three nautical miles west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
The nationality of the rescued and missing migrants is yet to be determined.
The crew of the Cushing detected a migrant boat Wednesday morning attempting to make landfall on Mona Island, when they observed the group of migrants jump into the water as the migrant boat proceeded to flee the area with three other people onboard.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, alerted by the Cushing of the developing situation, proceeded to launch a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist with the search. A Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit and a Coast Guard Auxiliary Fixed-Wing aircraft are also assisting with the ongoing search efforts.
The rescued migrants were all wearing lifejackets when they were recovered from the water, however, it remains unclear if the two missing migrants were wearing any at the time.
The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.