Colombia Recovers Bodies of 12 African Migrants Who Drowned in Accident, Reports Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s navy recently recovered the bodies of 12 African migrants, including seven children, who perished in a shipwreck in the Caribbean, according to a source from the country’s migration agency on Thursday.

The incident occurred early on Sunday, and the exact cause remains unclear. The migrants were reportedly traveling without visas, being transported by traffickers en route to Panama.

Survivors indicated that the boat was carrying approximately 30 individuals, with some remaining unaccounted for, the source noted.

The agency spokesperson mentioned they were awaiting further information from the navy and did not have additional comments at this time.

The jungle region in northern Colombia, which borders Panama and the Caribbean, is frequently exploited for illegal migrant trafficking. Many individuals using these routes are from Cuba or Africa and are aiming to reach the United States.

Official Colombian figures indicate that at least 57,000 people have been detected trying to navigate this route over the past five years.