At least 11 dead after migrant boat sinks in Caribbean off Puerto Rico

May 13 (UPI) -- Responders continued to search overnight for survivors after a boat believed to be carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Puerto Rico on Thursday, resulting in at least 11 people dead while 31 others were rescued, authorities said.

The crew of a Customs and Border Protection aircraft sighted the capsized vessel with people in waters 10 nautical miles north of Desecheo Island, between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, at about 11:47 a.m. Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

Several helicopters took off from Puerto Rico's northwestern Air Station Borinquen and a Coast Guard Cutter was diverted from its course to respond to the scene and search of survivors with marine units with Customs and Border Protection and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces also deployed in the mission.

Twenty men and 11 women were rescued from the water as of 6 p.m., officials said, adding the survivors were brought to Air Station Borinquen where they received medical treatment.

Eleven bodies were also recovered, officials said.

Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson said in a statement that helicopters, planes and rescue boats from various law enforcement agencies were continuing to search for survivors.

"Our highest priority is saying lives, and that is what my crews will exhaust themselves doing," he said.

"Our hope and prayers are with the survivors and those still missing."