Coast Guard searching for 2 fishermen off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Police are searching Friday for two fishermen reportedly overdue aboard 14 to 20 foot-black fishing vessel (yola) off the northwest coast of Puerto Rico.

Missing are Alexis Palavera Beltrán, 32, and Abner González, 39, residents of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a telephone call Thursday morning from the wife of one of the missing men, who reported the men departed at 6 a.m. Wednesday from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to the Los Rabos fishing grounds. The men reportedly did not return from their fishing trip Wednesday afternoon when they were expected to arrive.

Dominican Republic Navy rescue crews notified by the Coast Guard are also assisting with the search efforts.

Searching are:

A rescue aircrew aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Farallon, a 110 foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Rescue crews aboard Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action marine units.
Rescue crews aboard the Dominican Republic Navy Vessel Polaris

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the missing men is requested to contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.

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