By Santiago Serna
BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) – Authorities have confirmed the deaths of two male and two female Venezuelan migrants who died when a migrant boat sank while trying to reach the Dutch island of Curacao early Thursday.
In addition, 20 others who were aboard the boat are missing after it sank just miles from Curacao’s coast. All of the migrants were under 30 years old.
The overcrowded vessel sailed from San Jose de la Costa in the western Venezuelan state of Falcon before striking some rocks in the sea and sinking, naval officials said.
The victims’ families are in Falcon state to identify the bodies.
It is the first time a migrant ship has been reported capsized near the land which belongs to the Netherlands.
Venezuelan media quoted locals who paid as much as $100 for the chance to leave the country, which is wrestling with deep economic and social crises.
The tragedy occurred just days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the nation’s borders closed with the ABC islands – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
Maduro said he took the measure to fight trafficking groups that have helped cause severe shortages by smuggling Venezuelan products and minerals out of the county.
*Daniela Mendoza contributed in this report.
