Venezuelan Girl Dies as Migrant Boat Sinks Off Panama

PANAMA CITY, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – A tragic maritime accident claimed the life of an 8-year-old Venezuelan girl after a boat carrying 19 South American migrants capsized off Panama’s coast while they attempted to return home, authorities confirmed Saturday.

The vessel sank late Friday night due to strong waves and rough weather in the Caribbean waters off northeast Panama, according to the country’s Senafront border service.

Onboard were migrants from Venezuela and Colombia, along with two crew members. While the young girl perished, all other passengers were rescued, officials said.

“The incident occurred within the context of reverse migration,” Senafront stated, referring to the growing trend of migrants abandoning their journey to the United States and returning to their home countries.

Many of these individuals had traveled through Mexico and Central America, only to be blocked from entering the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies. Facing limited options, they opted for a maritime route to bypass the treacherous Darien Gap, a region notorious for its fast-flowing rivers, dangerous wildlife, and criminal gangs.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed condolences to the affected families and emphasized the urgent need for improved safety measures for migrants traveling through Panama.

On Friday, AFP observed several boats departing from a makeshift dock at the Carti port in northern Panama, packed with migrants.

“What choice did we have but to return?” a Venezuelan migrant told AFP. “We’ve been stranded for over 15 days, moving from Mexico to Panama, trying to scrape together money however we can.”

Senafront reported that the ill-fated boat was one of three traveling toward La Miel, a coastal town on the Panama-Colombia border. While two vessels halted their journey due to worsening weather conditions, the third pressed on—leading to the tragic accident.

Since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, hundreds of South American migrants turned away at the U.S. border have begun the arduous journey back home, traveling by foot, bus, and boat, often relying on shelters along the way.