Death toll rises to 21 after boat capsizes near Dominican Republic

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The death toll has risen to 21 from the weekend capsizing of a boat overloaded with migrants near the Dominican Republic.

The fire chief in the Dominican city of Sabana del Mar says more than 30 more people remain missing. Jeffrey Pimentel said Tuesday that authorities are perplexed more bodies have not surfaced since Saturday’s accident, when a boat carrying some 70 people capsized after leaving the Dominican Republic for the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Thirteen people survived. Pimentel says it’s possible more survivors swam to shore and hid from authorities to avoid being interrogated.