The Governments of the Republic of Guatemala and the United Mexican States deeply regret the deaths of a number of migrants of various nationalities who lost their lives in a fire that broke out on the night of March 27 at a migrant center in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Yesterday, the Mexican government provided preliminary information and, after a detailed investigation, it has been officially confirmed that 20 Guatemalans died in the fire, all adult men.
Guatemalan consular officials traveled to Ciudad Juárez and visited all the hospitals there, searching for any Guatemalans involved in the incident. The Guatemalan consular network is in close coordination with the Foreign Ministry's Office for Central America and the Caribbean, which has sent personnel to the site to work with the consulates and embassies of the countries whose nationals were involved.
Eight injured Guatemalan migrants have been located, of which six are in critical condition and two are stable. The two stable individuals have been assisted with contacting their families.
Initially it was announced that there was a ninth injured Guatemalan, however, his nationality is being verified.
Given that the names of the Guatemalans have been published, the Mexican government commits to providing security for them in the hospitals where they are being treated and to assist with their reunification with their families.
The hospitalized Guatemalans are:
- Cristian Vidal Alexander Ventura Sacalxot, 26 years old. Stable.
- Eliseo Gutierrez Valdez, 22 years old. Stable.
- Enrique Coy Pop, 24 years old. Critical.
- Fernando Pu Castro, 25 years old. Critical.
- Gaspar Santiago Ixcotoyac Tum, 28 years old. Critical.
- Kevin Estuardo Cardona López, 25 years old. Critical.
- Rubbesly Manrique Pérez Rodríguez, 38 years old. Critical.
- Diego Tzaj Ixtos, 25 years old. Critical.
In general, of the 28 injured and deceased Guatemalans, all are men between the ages of 18 and 51, from: Jacaltenango, Santa Eulalia, Nentón and Malacatancito (Huehuetenango); Nahualá (Solola); Santa Cruz del Quiché and Sacapulas (Quiché); San Jose Pinula (Guatemala); El Estor (Izabal); San Francisco El Alto (Totonicapán); San Antonio Sacatepéquez and El Tumbador (San Marcos); Chicacao and Mazatenango (Suchitepéquez); Camotan (Chiquimula); San Martin Jilotepeque (Chimaltenango); Olintepeque (Quetzaltenango); and Cobán (Alta Verapaz).
When alerted to this tragedy, the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry activated its emergency protocol for migrant assistance and protection, in conjunction with the Mexican Government.
The President of Guatemala, Dr. Alejandro Giammattei, has instructed his country's Foreign Minister to work in coordination with the Mexican government to thoroughly investigate the incident and determine who was responsible.
The governments of both countries express their solidarity with the families of the victims and reaffirm their commitment to continue their work until all the migrants who lost their lives are repatriated and the injured have been discharged from the hospital.