Ten migrants drowned trying to cross a raging river in the Darien Pass, a section of the jungle in Panama, which borders Colombia, AP reported, quoted by BTA, referring to the Panamanian border service.
In a statement, the border service said the victims were swept away by strong currents and their bodies were found days later. According to the Panamanian authorities, the migrants drowned as early as July 16, but the area was so remote that they were only now able to report this information.
The prosecutor's office in Panama is investigating the case, including the nationalities of the victims. More than half of the migrants crossing the Darien Pass come from Venezuela.
In 2023, a record of sorts was set with more than 500,000 migrants attempting to cross the treacherous pass and through the jungle at the Colombia-Panama border. More than 212,000 people have entered Panama through the Darien Pass so far this year.
It is now the rainy season in Panama, which makes the many rivers the migrants have to cross even more dangerous.