At least 39 migrants died in a traffic accident in Panama

At least 39 people died this Wednesday morning when the bus in which they were traveling to a shelter in Panama. The victims were migrants who were in transit to the United States.

“We have information on 33 people who have died at this time,” said the national director of Migration, Samira Gozaine, on the Telemetro channel. Previously, the Panamanian president, Laurentino Cortizo, had delivered a preliminary balance of 15 deaths.

“It is with great sadness that I receive the news of the traffic accident in Gualaca, Chiriquí,” about 400 km west of the capital, Cortizo tweeted. The migrants “lost their lives while they were being transported from Darién to a shelter located in this place,” added the president.

The bus was carrying migrants from Darién, the jungle area that borders Colombia, to the border crossing with Costa Rica. There were 66 occupants in the vehicle, including the driver and the assistant, police chief of traffic operations Commissioner Emiliano Otero told reporters.

It was indicated that the driver had passed the entrance of the shelter and when he wanted to return the accident occurred.

With the passing of the hours, the increase in victims has been announced, some remained in the body of the vehicle. However, the nationalities of the migrants have not yet been detailed.

Several injured were taken by ambulance to the hospital in the city of David, head of the province of Chiriquí, according to the authorities.

Currently, the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador said that it is in the process of identifying possible Ecuadorian victims. (YO)