10 migrants die after being swept away by a river in Darien (+VIDEOS)

10 migrants die! At least 10 migrants drowned after being swept away by a current of water when they tried to cross the Darien jungle through the community of Carreto, in the Guna Yala region of Panama.

10 migrants die in the Darien jungleMigrant flow decreases

The National Border Service (Senafront) of that country revealed the unfortunate event on Wednesday, July 24.

10 migrants die in the Darien jungle

The Panamanian Public Prosecutor’s Office immediately launched an investigation into the case, as the bodies were allegedly buried in order to “cover up their criminal links to migrant trafficking,” the institution said.

10 migrants die after being swept away by a river in Darien

Migrant flow decreases

According to Senafront, this situation occurred just as Panama began to close some points on the border with Colombia to “channel” the flow of irregular migrants entering the country through Darien.

For several weeks now, the country has been putting up miles of fencing to prevent people from crossing paths.

The number of migrants has been falling in recent weeks. Up to June, some 31,049 migrants had passed through, while so far in July the figure is 11,386, according to Panama’s La Prensa.

#Lamentable | The @senafrontpanama Through a statement, the government confirmed the death of 10 migrants who were swept away by a flood in Carreto. We reiterate that the safest authorized passage for irregular migration is the one leading to Cañas Blancas. pic.twitter.com/MiEw3mllDS

— Ministry of Public Security of Panama (@MinSegPma) July 24, 2024