At least three people died, two others were hurt, two minors were among those affected, and two individuals remain unaccounted for after a migrant boat capsized in Colombia’s Urabá Bay this Monday. Rescue teams and authorities reported the initial toll and ongoing search efforts as the incident unfolded along a busy maritime route that often serves as a crossing point for people seeking safer paths toward temporary refuge or new opportunities.
The vessel, carrying about 40 passengers, was involved in a dramatic rescue operation in which community members assisted the Colombian Navy to save 35 people and recover three bodies. The agency later confirmed that among the retrieved were an adult woman and two children, while search operations continued for two missing individuals. This event underscores the precarious conditions faced by migrants relying on small craft to traverse dangerous waters, even when the trip is classified as a legal form of transportation. Rescue operations and official statements stressed the ongoing nature of the search as weather and sea states could hamper efforts.
Officials noted that the boat had departed from Turbo in the Antioquia department on the eastern side of the gulf, bound for Acandí in the Chocó department. From there, many migrants embark on a perilous journey through the Darién Jungle that links Colombia with Central America. The vessel reportedly capsized due to heavy waves, prompting concerns voiced by local social leaders about the humanitarian crisis driven by the high influx of people moving through this region. Emigdio Partúz, a representative of the Cocomanorte Community Council in Titumate near Unguia, called for more attentive government action to address the dangers migrants face and to implement lasting protections. He described the government’s response as frustrating when decisive measures are not taken to safeguard vulnerable populations.
In parallel, Panamanian authorities reported that the Darién crossing reached a record level last year, with the number of migrants moving through the mountainous forest doubling from the year before. More than 520,000 people reportedly crossed the Darién Pass, including 328,650 Venezuelans, 57,250 Ecuadorians, 46,422 Haitians, 25,565 Chinese, and 18,841 Colombians. These figures illustrate the scale and diversity of those risking the trek in search of safer futures, despite the dangers posed by terrain and criminal activity along the route.
According to information released by the Ombudsman Institution, 15,588 people had already passed through this route in the first 15 days of the current year, including 2,647 children. During their week-long journeys through dense jungle and harsh environments, migrants contend with natural hazards such as animal encounters, river floods, and limited access to food and clean water. They also face risks from criminal networks that target travelers, including robbery, sexual violence, and even murder.
Data from Médecins Sans Frontières emphasizes the severity of sexual violence faced by migrants in the Darién Gap, with at least 676 victims documented last year, the majority of whom were women. The human cost of the Darién crossing continues to draw attention from international observers, humanitarian organizations, and governments as they assess what steps can improve safety, protection, and access to legitimate pathways for movement in the region. [Citation: humanitarian organizations and government reports]|