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Three Migrants Drown in Boat Accident Off Trinidad and Tobago Coast
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Three Migrants Drown in Boat Accident Off Trinidad and Tobago Coast

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Three people drowned when a boat carrying 30 migrants to Venezuela capsized near Trinidad and Tobago.
  • The vessel struck a rock near Los Iros beach, causing it to overturn and throw passengers into the sea.
  • Search operations are ongoing for at least two missing adults, with a 6-year-old girl confirmed among the dead.

A tragic maritime accident off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago has claimed the lives of at least three people, including a 6-year-old girl, when a boat carrying 30 Venezuelan migrants capsized. The vessel was en route to Venezuela when it struck a rock near Los Iros beach in the southwestern part of the island, causing it to overturn and spill its occupants into the sea.

They are desperately trying to locate all the passengers and determine who is still missing.

— Angie RamnarineAngie Ramnarine, who assists Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad, described the efforts to account for those on board.

Local authorities, including the Police and Coast Guard, launched a rescue operation following the incident, which occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. While some passengers managed to reboard the damaged boat, which was later towed back to Venezuela, three individuals were confirmed dead. The bodies of the 6-year-old, identified as Brithanny Linneth Yanett León Palacios, and an unidentified adult man were recovered. At least two other adults remain missing.

Search efforts resumed at dawn on Thursday, involving the Coast Guard, police, the Air Support Unit, and volunteers from Hunters Search and Rescue. Captain Vallence Rambharat of Hunters Search and Rescue reported that aerial drone searches were conducted Wednesday evening. He noted that interviews with members of the Venezuelan community suggested strong currents and a large wave may have caused the boat to capsize shortly after departing Trinidad's coast.

the strong swell and a large wave caused the boat to capsize shortly after leaving the coast

— community membersMembers of the Venezuelan community suggested the cause of the capsizing.

Personal belongings, including a red suitcase with clothing and a framed photograph of three women, have washed ashore, believed to belong to passengers. Angie Ramnarine, assisting Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad, stated that families are desperately trying to identify everyone on board and determine who is still missing. Local fisherman Buju Katwaroo observed an increase in irregular sea crossings between Trinidad and Venezuela, particularly since recent earthquakes in Venezuela, with many boats now using Erin as a departure point.

sea crossings irregular between Trinidad and Venezuela have increased since the recent earthquakes in Venezuela

— Buju KatwarooLocal fisherman Buju Katwaroo noted a rise in dangerous migrant journeys.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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