Shipwreck off Panama Coast Claims Life of Colombian Child
A three-year-old colombian girl died Sunday after a boat carrying โฃ20 migrants capsized off the coast of Miramar, Santa โIsabel,โ in Panama’s Colรณn โขprovince. Panamanian authorities confirmed the child’s death despite attempts at resuscitation.
The incident involved a vessel operatedโข by a Colombian national,โ whichโ was not authorized forโ passenger transport. Accordingโ to a statement from the Panamanian Executive, the boat โwas registered for artisanal fishing only and departed โคfrom anโ unauthorized dock. While the nationalities โขof all those aboard haven’t beenโ officially released, local reports indicate the majority were Venezuelan.
A private vessel provided initial assistance, followed by response efforts from โขthe National aeronaval Service โข(Senan).
Theโ tragedy โoccurs amidst a shift โขin โคmigration โpatterns โthrough Panama. Following policy changes implemented โafterโค Josรฉ Raรบl Mulino assumed the presidency in Julyโข 2024, and coinciding with Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, the flow of migrants crossing the dangerous Dariรฉn gap has decreased. These policies include U.S.-funded repatriation flights and efforts to close unofficial crossing routes.
A July 2024 migration agreement between Panama and the United States has provided $14โ million ( $7 million in 2024 and $7 million in 2025) to support Panama’s deportation and expulsion operations. As of October, 2,736 migrants have been deportedโ or expelled under this agreement, according toโข Panamanian Security Minister Frank รbrego.
Consequently, a growing number of migrants are now opting to travel by boat from Panamanian Caribbean ports to a border โขtown in Colombia, continuing theirโ journey southwards rather than attemptingโฃ the overland route through โthe Dariรฉn.