Two Colombians are said to have died in the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 33 migrants in Panama

At least 39 people died and 20 others were injured after a bus carrying immigrants fell off a cliff in the early hours of Wednesday February 15, 2023 in the area of GualacaWest of Panama. According RCR NewsAmong the victims are two Colombians, whose identity is unknown.

It would be the worst traffic accident since Panama a few years ago authorized the transfer by bus of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien Jungleon the border with Colombia, in a border shelter with Costa Rica, so that they continue on their way to the United States.

The accident happened after last year a record number of irregular migration flows was established through the jungle of the You’re welcome and other parts of this province, with the passage of nearly 250,000 foreigners, mainly Venezuelans and Ecuadorians. So far in 2023, 37,000 have already crossed, including Haitian, Cuban, African and Asian migrants, according to Panamanian authorities.

“Preliminary information (…) indicates that 39 people, unfortunately, lost their lives. The injured are being treated in various hospitals and health centers,” the National Immigration Service said in a statement.

For his part, the Panamanian President, Laurentino Cortizo, wrote on his Twitter: “This news is unfortunate for Panama and for the region. The national government offers its condolences to the families of those who died in this accident and reiterates its commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance and decent conditions to deal with irregular migration. »

Also Panama Ministry of Public Security He confirmed that since his leadership he will do everything possible to ensure that the bodies of the victims are repatriated as soon as possible.

“As it is an accident that occurred on our territory, we will logically make all the coordinations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide the support that allows the bodies of the injured to reach the families. There is all this will on our part,” said Juan Pino Forero.

“The government of Colombia expresses its solidarity with the people and the government of Panama because of the accident that claimed the lives of at least 39 people of different nationalities in the area of ​​Los Planes de Gualaca, in the province of Chiriquí .”

“According to information provided by the Panamanian authorities, people of Colombian nationality have been reported among the victims on a preliminary basis.”

“The Colombian government expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, Colombians and several sister countries. In the same sense, it informs that, through its diplomatic representation and its consular offices in Panama, it will provide the corresponding assistance in these cases.

Several of the injured were transported by ambulance to the hospital in the city of Davidhead of the province of Chiriquí, according to local authorities.

For its part, Samira Gozaine, Director of National Migration Servicetold the media that apparently the bus driver missed the entrance to the shelter where he was to take the migrants and as he turned to get back on the road in the late morning and in the middle of the fog, he fell on a slope before hitting another passenger bus in this area, located about 459 kilometers west of the Panamanian capital.