Ten migrants died and 15 were injured, including four children, in an accident in Mexico when the truck in which they were being transported by a suspected human trafficker overturned. According to preliminary information The majority would be Cubans.
The event occurred early Sunday morning in a part of Chiapas state, 150 kilometers from the city of Tapachula, on the border with Guatemala, the local security secretariat reported, citing EFE.
The accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. at kilometer 134 of this road, near the diversion to Monte Santa Cruz, in the municipality of Pijijiapan, when a Super Duty truck without a license plate left the road for unknown reasons.
This was reported by paramedics who were involved in the rescue on site In total there were 25 migrants of different nationalities, ten of whom had already diedreported El Sol de México.
The injured were taken to the municipal base hospital Dr. Rafael Alfaro while the bodies of the deceased were identified.
According to Mexican media The suspected human trafficker, who was driving the vehicle, fled the scene.
“As far as the identity and nationality of the people are concerned, the responsible authorities will clarify this,” the civil protection agency said, without providing any further information about the incident.
We deeply regret the death of Cuban irregular migrants in the state of Chiapas as a result of a car accident. @EmbaCuMex coordinates with Mexican authorities to provide necessary consular assistance. #Cuba reiterates its commitment to safe migration.
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) October 1, 2023
Despite it, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez referred to the incident in his social network profileindicating that it was updated by Mexican authorities.
“We deeply regret the death of irregular Cuban migrants in the state of Chiapas as a result of a car accident. The Cuban Embassy in Mexico is coordinating with the Mexican authorities to provide the necessary consular assistance,” he wrote.
A prosecutor’s source, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed to AFP that the victims appeared to be from Cuba and were all women, including a minor. But it will be the authorities of the National Migration Institute (INM) who will report the nationality of the people who died and were injured in this accident.
The event area is a regular transit area for irregular migrants seeking to reach the southern border of the United States. In Tapachula, the influx of Cuban migrants has increased in recent weeks as the island experiences its worst exodus in more than half a century.