5-month-old baby among 2 dead as boat capsizes near New York’s Liberty Island

A tragic accident unfolded on Saturday, August 8, when a boat carrying more than a dozen individuals capsized near New York City's Liberty Island. The incident occurred around 10:27 p.m. local time in New York Harbor, close to the Statue of Liberty.

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to reports of a capsized boat and rescued twelve civilians from the water. However, two individuals were found in critical condition and were transported to hospitals for treatment. Among them was a 5-month-old baby, who sadly succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, along with another woman. Their identities have not yet been made public.

The victims' identities will be released at a later date by law enforcement. The FDNY and NYPD's Harbor, Scuba, and Aviation units, along with the US Coast Guard, were all dispatched to the scene. The vessel responsible for the incident was a 22-foot bowrider motorboat. The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation.

Photos from the scene depict rescuers carrying away injured individuals on stretchers, while others return to the dock following the incident. The investigation will include interviews with the boat's captain as authorities piece together the circumstances surrounding this heart-wrenching event.