The bus carried 66 passengers, most presumably migrants traveling north towards the United States after crossing the Darién Gap from Colombia into Panama.

The Darién Gap is a break in the Pan-American Highway that consists of large areas of undeveloped swampland and forest.

[2] This bus carried migrants who had already crossed the gap toward a shelter in Chiriquí, a western province bordering Costa Rica.

The National Government extends its condolences to the families of those killed in this accident, and reiterates its commitment to continue providing humanitarian aid and decent conditions to deal with irregular migration.

"[7] Officials from Colombia and Panama agreed to boost joint military operations in the Darién jungle to prevent irregular migration, drug trafficking and illegal mining.