- The Tragic Accident: At least 39 people died, and over 20 were injured when a bus carrying 66 migrants fell into a cliff in Gualaca, western Panama, on Wednesday, February 15th.
- The Migrant Journey: The bus was carrying migrants in transit who were in shelters in Darien province, on the border with Colombia, and were being transferred to another in Chiriqui, on the border with Costa Rica.
- The Aftermath: Public Security Minister Juan Pino confirmed that the bus was carrying both Panamanian nationals and migrants, and the government is providing medical attention to the survivors. President Laurentino Cortizo expressed his sadness and affirmed that it is necessary to wait for the results of the investigations to know what caused the accident.
At least 39 people died, and more than 20 were injured when a bus carrying migrants fell into a cliff early Wednesday morning in the area of Gualaca, in western Panama.
The major of firefighters in the province of Chiriqui, Edilberto Armuelles, said that in the accident, which occurred at 4.30 local time on Wednesday (9.30 GMT), at least 33 people died and 23 others were injured.
Among the injured, there are at least five minors, two with serious injuries, local media reported. Details on the identity of the deceased have not yet been released.
According to available information, the vehicle was carrying 66 transiting migrants in shelters in the province of Darien, on the border with Colombia. They were being transferred to another shelter in Chiriqui, on the border with Costa Rica.
Panama, where 248,284 irregular migrants traveling to North America arrived last year after crossing the Darien jungle, an unprecedented number, receives these travelers at stations where they take their biometric data and offer them health care and food, after which they are transferred in buses to the border with Costa Rica to continue their journey.
“We haven’t had these accidents with buses and fatalities for several years,” said the National Police’s Deputy Commissioner of Transit, Emiliano Otero, to EFE.
Public Security Minister Juan Pino confirmed that the bus was carrying both Panamanian nationals and “migrants in transit” through the country.
Pino regretted this “malicious act, which nobody wants” to happen, and affirmed that it is necessary to wait for the results of the investigations to know precisely what caused the accident.
The first versions indicate that the bus driver tried to make a turn on the highway, but lost control, collided with another bus, and fell into the ravine.
Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo expressed his “sadness” at this event and stated, “the Government of Panama is providing all medical attention to the injured.”
The bus had 66 occupants, including the driver and an assistant, when it crashed some 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of the capital, Panama City, police traffic operations commissioner Emiliano Otero told reporters.
Authorities have yet to report the victims’ nationalities or the number of injured. Cortizo said the government was providing medical attention to the survivors.
Gozaine told AFP by telephone that three people were seriously injured at the accident scene.
According to local media, several of the injured were taken by ambulance to a hospital in the city of David, the capital of Chiriqui province.
The bus was carrying migrants from Darien, a jungle area in eastern Panama bordering Colombia, west to Costa Rica, from where the passengers intended to continue their journey through Central America and Mexico and eventually to the United States.
The number of irregular migrants arriving in Panama en route to the United States nearly doubled in 2022 to 248,000. More than half were Venezuelan, the migration authority reported on January 1.