A migrant tragedy has struck the Caribbean once again, as at least four people died and around 20 are missing after a boat carrying roughly 40 refugees and migrants capsized off the coast of the Dominican Republic. The vessel, bound for Puerto Rico, overturned in rough seas, prompting a rescue effort by the Dominican Navy and civil defence authorities.

Seventeen people were pulled from the water alive—10 Dominicans and seven Haitians—including a child. The wooden or fiberglass boat, commonly referred to as a “yola,” was not equipped with proper safety measures. Such vessels are often used in dangerous crossings to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, by people desperate to escape poverty, violence, and instability—particularly from Haiti.

Smugglers charge up to $7,000 for the journey, despite the high risk of arrest, deportation, or death. Illegal migration from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico has surged over the past decade, turning the treacherous Mona Passage into a well-worn but deadly corridor. The uninhabited Mona Island, a protected reserve, is frequently used as a waystation for these dangerous voyages.

This latest incident underscores the growing humanitarian crisis in the region, as people continue to risk—and lose—their lives in pursuit of safety, stability, and opportunity.