Rome, 16 February (EFE).- Pope Francis on Thursday expressed his “sorrow” at the bus accident that killed 40 migrants crossing Panama, expressing himself “to the pain of the relatives and friends of the deceased” connected.
“It is with deep sadness that the Holy Father has received the news of a bus accident in the Gualaca area in which several migrants lost their lives and others were injured,” the Vatican Secretary of State said in a telegram. Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The message, written in Spanish, to Cardinal José Luis Lacunza, Bishop of the Panamanian city of David, adds: “His Holiness Francisco joins the sorrow of the relatives and friends of the deceased and asks for a speedy recovery of those injured”.
“While he heartily imparts the consoling apostolic blessing as a sign of hope in the risen Lord,” he concludes.
Panamanian authorities increased the death toll to 40 Thursday, including children, in the crash of a bus carrying irregular migrants to an emergency shelter near the Costa Rica border on Wednesday.
More than 20 people were killed in the accident, which happened around 04:00 local time (09:00 GMT) in Gualaca, an area in western Chiriquí province some 450 kilometers from the Panamanian capital, according to authorities injured.
Panamanian authorities have not publicly announced the age or nationality of the deceased, who are believed to be mostly migrants in transit to North America.
The deputy director of the National Migration Service (SNM), María Isabel Saravia, said at a press conference that among the deceased were children – 20 minors were traveling on the bus – as well as a Panamanian national who was one of the two drivers.
According to the version available and verified by the authorities, the bus driver passed the entrance of the Gualaca shelter and lost control of the vehicle while turning, collided with at least one solid object and fell into a ravine.
This is the worst accident of this type recorded in Panama in more than 50 years. EFE
Romu/pi