India, Sept. 29 -- The US Coast Guard said Monday that it rescued at least 40 people in open waters after their boat capsized several miles from a tiny, uninhabited island west of Puerto Rico.

Two people were found dead, with survivors reporting an estimated 60 people aboard, the agency said.

Rescue efforts were ongoing as of Monday evening.

Survivors spent more than 12 hours in the water before a boat passing near Mona Island spotted them on Monday around noon and called authorities, helping rescue four people at that moment.

The Coast Guard said the makeshift boat capsized late Sunday following a fight in which people were severely injured by a machete, leading the group to jump into the water without life vests.

It wasn't immediat...