(Reuters) – A migrant ship carrying 11 migrants sank near Puerto Rico. The incident occurred amid a rise in seafaring migrants trying to reach the shores of America.

Coast Guard officials released a statement saying that they received an alert from watchstanders at the Coast Guard about a Communication reporting that a Custom and Border Protection pilot had seen a vessel in distress with several people inside.

According to the statement, the vessel was “undeterminedly” carrying people and was seen 10 nautical miles north from Desecheo Island in Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard announced on Twitter that 31 survivors and 11 dead had been located as of 6:05 p.m.

In recent months, migrants from Haiti have been trying to flee gang violence, poverty, and unsafe voyages aboard unsuitable vessels.