Mexican state official says 24 migrants dead

A member of Oaxaca’s government said that 24 Central American migrants died after their boat capsized in the Pacific Ocean last week. Though previous reports said that 10-15 people died, a statement by the Oaxaca government claimed otherwise.

The shipwreck allegedly involved Salvadoran migrants trying to make the long journey to the U.S.:

Survivor Noemi Martinez, 29, of El Salvador, told authorities the vessel left Guatemala with more than 20 migrants aboard and capsized Tuesday.

The shipwreck suggests that migrant smugglers may be increasingly turning to boats to transport Central Americans through Mexico, avoiding highway checkpoints.

Image- CNN

Sources- Xinhua, BBC News, Associated Press, International Herald Tribune