Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Trinidad and Tobago Coast; Three Dead, Two Missing

A tragic maritime incident on the southwestern coast of Trinidad and Tobago has claimed the lives of at least three people, including a six-year-old girl, with two adults still missing. The accident occurred when a vessel carrying approximately 30 individuals and general cargo capsized after striking a rock near Los Iros beach.

The boat had departed from the Erin area shortly after noon on Wednesday, heading towards Venezuela. According to initial investigations by local security forces, the impact with the rock, combined with strong waves, caused the immediate capsizing of the boat, throwing all occupants into the water.

Following the alert, a joint operation involving the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, local police, and the Air Support Unit was launched. Volunteers from the Hunters Search and Rescue team are also assisting in the search efforts, with drones and patrols covering a perimeter of several kilometers between Taparo Point and Los Iros.

Authorities confirmed that some survivors managed to return to the damaged vessel and make their way back to Venezuelan territory. Meanwhile, luggage and personal belongings of the travelers have been found washing ashore. Residents in the southwestern fishing communities have noted a sustained increase in irregular maritime traffic between the island and Venezuela, particularly since recent earthquakes in the neighboring country. They indicated that clandestine networks are increasingly using areas like Erin as departure and arrival points, often operating under the cover of night to evade coastal patrols.