A boat carrying 14 people capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor, leaving a 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old baby girl dead.
The incident happened at around 10.25pm local time on Saturday (Aug 8), when a 6.7-metre Yamaha recreational motorboat suddenly overturned while travelling in waters near Liberty Island.
All 14 people on board were thrown into the water following the accident, prompting the New York City Fire Department and police to launch a large-scale search and rescue operation.
Water rescue teams, divers and helicopters were deployed to search the dark waters. Twelve survivors were eventually rescued and were reported to be in stable condition while receiving medical attention at local hospitals.
During the continued search, police divers located the 27-year-old woman and five-month-old infant. Both were taken to hospital but were later pronounced dead.
Initial police investigations found no indication that the boat had collided with another vessel.
Authorities are now working to determine what caused the sudden capsizing, with possible factors including mechanical problems, weather conditions or other circumstances.
The incident has raised renewed concerns over safety on the busy waters of New York Harbor, particularly during nighttime recreational boating.
