On October 6, in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico, a bus met with a severe accident leading to the death of 16 migrants, including three children.
The bus was carrying a total of 55 passengers, mainly from Venezuela, others from Haiti and/or Peru, depending on differing accounts. The crash occurred on a highway, where it is believed the bus collided with a freight truck.
According to images captured at the scene, the bus was found overturned with considerable damage. The accident has raised concerns about the safety of such journeys, especially since many migrants are taking these perilous routes to reach the US border. It is noteworthy that migrant smuggling operations often involve dangerous trips in unsafe vehicles overloaded with passengers. The 29 injured people were shifted to hospitals in the neighboring state of Puebla for medical attention.
The Venezuelan passengers on this bus were in the process of seeking asylum in the US, and they had planned appointments for their asylum applications through the CBP One program.
The Oaxacan governor, in response to this calamitous event, expressed his condolences and assured that the authorities would provide support to the injured.
As investigations continue into the exact cause of this accident and whether other vehicles played a part in the collision, concerns over the safety of migrants’ journeys through Mexico remain at the forefront of discussions.
