In a devastating turn of events, at least 18 migrants from Venezuela and Haiti perished in a catastrophic road accident in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Friday. The incident also left 27 individuals grievously injured, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Oaxaca.
The calamity unfolded around 5 a.m. local time when a bus carrying the migrants lost control and capsized on the highway connecting the cities of Oaxaca and Cuacnopalan. The neighboring state of Puebla also felt the impact of this tragedy. The prosecutor’s office elucidated that the injured passengers were promptly transferred to nearby medical facilities for urgent care.
Salomón Jara, the Governor of Oaxaca, conveyed his condolences via the social network X, formerly known as Twitter. He assured that governmental agencies are already extending support to the victims and their families. “We deeply regret the fatal accident that occurred on the Oaxaca-Cuacnopalan highway, in which several migrants lost their lives. Our government staff are already providing support to those affected,” Jara stated.
Lamentamos profundamente el fatal accidente ocurrido en la autopista Oaxaca-Cuacnopalan, en la que fallecieron varias personas migrantes. Personal de nuestro gobierno ya se encuentra dando el apoyo a los afectados.
Nuestro pésame a las familias de las personas fallecidas y toda…
— Salomón Jara Cruz (@salomonj) October 6, 2023
This incident comes on the heels of another fatal road accident in the southern state of Chiapas just five days ago, where 10 Cuban women, including a minor, lost their lives. They were traveling illegally in a cargo truck at the time of the accident.
The perilous journey through Mexico has proven to be fraught with danger for migrants. A report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released on September 12 highlighted that the US-Mexico border was the “most dangerous land migration route in the world” in 2022, with 686 dead or missing.
The Mexican government has openly admitted to being overwhelmed by the influx of migrants, primarily from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Central America. In August alone, nearly 233,000 individuals crossed into the United States from the southern border, setting a new record. Mexican immigration authorities apprehended more than 189,000 migrants in September.
The escalating crisis has put a strain on Mexico’s resources and infrastructure. In mid-September, the country’s largest rail operator had to suspend 30% of its operations due to the overwhelming number of undocumented migrants boarding freight trains. The risks are high, with many facing fatal falls or mutilated limbs during their perilous journey.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for solutions that can mitigate the loss of life and offer safer pathways for those seeking a better future.
