SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard rescue crews are searching Saturday for possible Dominican survivors, after their boat (yola) reportedly capsized in Samana Bay waters off the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan Joint Rescue Sub Center watchstanders received notification of the incident at approximately 3p.m. Saturday from the Coast Guard Liaison Officer stationed in the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who also relayed a request for assistance from Dominican Republic navy authorities to assist with the efforts to find and rescue survivors.
Sector San Juan controllers launched a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Miami on deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and they diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo to the scene. Coast Guard rescue aircrews are currently on scene searching.
The Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
