18 migrants killed in bus crash in southern Mexico

MEXICO CITY

A tragic road accident in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, claimed the lives of eighteen migrants on Friday, according to authorities.

A bus, carrying 55 migrants—primarily from Venezuela—overturned in the Oaxaca-Cuacnopala highway bordering the state of Puebla, said prosecutors in Oaxaca.

The preliminary findings of the accident reveal that the fatalities include two women, three minors, and 13 men, all from Venezuela and Haiti.

Additionally, state authorities said that at least 27 passengers sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

The migrants had departed from the Migration Mobility Center in Oaxaca, the state office providing assistance to migrants traversing the country, including facilitating bus ticket sales to Mexico City.

The fatal accident comes after a high-security discussion between the Mexican and US governments, addressing the escalating migratory flows.

The Mexican government has revealed a surge in migration from the south, primarily individuals traveling through Mexico with the intention of crossing the US border. Notably, there has been a significant increase in Venezuelan nationals compared to other nationalities. According to US authorities, 50,000 Venezuelans crossed the border in September alone.

While Mexico has displayed a degree of support for US anti-immigration policies by strengthening its borders through the deployment of military patrols and a $1.5 billion investment in border security, the recent move by the US government to construct a 20-mile wall in Starr County—recognized for experiencing substantial migratory flows—has drawn criticism from Mexico.

"The construction of the wall is a step backward because it does not solve the problem. The causes must be addressed," said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at his press briefing on Thursday.

As both the US and Mexican governments advocate for enhanced border controls, with the Mexican president pushing for addressing the root causes of migration, the toll remains stark: 789 migrants have lost their lives attempting to cross the US border in 2023.