SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard says five Haitian migrants have apparently perished in rough waters off a rugged Puerto Rican island.
The Guard says smugglers apparently forced 18 migrants to jump off a boat into churning seas near Mona Island before jetting away. The small island lies in a treacherous passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Seven men and six women were able to reach land. But the bodies of two migrants have been recovered and three others remain missing and are presumed dead.
Rescue crews ended their search Sunday for the three missing people.
Guard Capt. Drew W. Pearson says "all indications are the smugglers took care of themselves and left these five individuals, who were only looking for a better life, to perish."
