Fatal bus crash in South Mexico claims 18 lives, injures 27 migrants

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Oct 2023 21:52

Among the deceased, three were minors, hailing from Venezuela and Haiti, as reported by the prosecutor's office in Oaxaca state.

A bus carrying 55 migrants from Central America overturned on a rural highway in southern Mexico on Friday, leaving 17 dead and many others injured (Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil)

A tragic accident occurred in southern Mexico on Friday when a bus carrying migrants overturned, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and 27 injuries.

Among the deceased, three were minors, hailing from Venezuela and Haiti, as reported by the prosecutor's office in Oaxaca state.

De manera preliminar, se informa que 17 personas fallecieron a causa de este percance, además de múltiples heridas, mismas que ya fueron trasladadas a recibir atención médica especializada. pic.twitter.com/anEWxOMLNf
— Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil (@CEPCyGR_GobOax) October 6, 2023

The accident occurred early in the morning on a highway connecting Oaxaca with the neighboring state of Puebla. Injured individuals were promptly transported to hospitals for medical attention.

Distressing images from the scene displayed the overturned bus on its side along a hilly highway.

"BREAKING – A bus transporting a group of migrants through southern #Mexico, mostly from #Venezuela, crashed, leaving a preliminary balance of 17 dead and several injured on the Oaxaca-Mexico highway."
17 👀 pic.twitter.com/UCVjxajO1F
— 🄴🄻ϻ🄴🅁 🄵µ🄳🄳 ✝️ (@Elmr_Fudd_again) October 6, 2023

Thousands of migrants from different countries have been traveling across Mexico in buses, overcrowded trailers and atop freight trains in an attempt to reach the US-Mexican border.

Since 2014, over 8,200 migrants have either lost their lives or gone missing in the Americas, with the majority of these incidents occurring as they attempted to reach the US via Mexico, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

During talks held in Mexico City on Thursday, high-ranking officials from the US and Mexico vowed to intensify their initiatives in addressing irregular migration. Their strategies include enhancing border security, bolstering legal pathways, and tackling the underlying causes of migration.

Following the discussions, US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized that both nations were dedicated to broadening "safe, orderly, and lawful pathways for migrants," but stressed that there would be "strict consequences" for those who enter the US illegally.