A boat capsized off the Caribbean coast of Panama on Tuesday, February 11, 2026, resulting in the deaths of two Venezuelan women and a Colombian man, authorities reported. Another Venezuelan woman was rescued but remains in serious condition.
The vessel, carrying 16 people, had departed from the port of Miramar, a common departure point for migrants returning from North America after unsuccessful attempts to settle in the United States, according to the Guna Yala General Congress, the indigenous authority of the region where the incident occurred. The migrants were traveling towards Puerto Obaldía, a border zone with Colombia, intending to continue their journeys to other countries, including Venezuela.
The Guna Yala General Congress stated that the boat overturned, trapping four migrants beneath the hull. The deceased were identified as two Venezuelan women and one Colombian man. The surviving Venezuelan woman was transported to a health post in Wissubwala and is now being moved to Panama City for further medical attention.
The Panamanian Maritime Authority (AMP) confirmed the three fatalities and the critically injured woman, but did not immediately release their names. Rescuers were able to save the remaining passengers on board.
This incident highlights the increasing number of migrants undertaking the perilous “reverse flow” journey, returning to South America after failing to establish themselves in the United States. In 2025, a total of 22,833 migrants made this journey, with over 90% being Venezuelan nationals, according to official Panamanian figures.
Authorities reported that another vessel carrying migrants experienced a similar incident earlier the same day, as well capsizing. However, all those on board that second boat were rescued.
