ORANJESTAD – The body of 35-year-old Venezuelan Maikel Serrano has been identified in Aruba after his family reported him missing during a sea crossing from Venezuela to the island.
Serrano, originally from Miranda state, worked in construction and had traveled by boat to Aruba in search of employment opportunities. His body was found on Monday, September 7, in the bay of San Nicolás and was later identified by his wife, who lives in Aruba, according to Venezuelan journalist Jhonnatam Petit.
Family members said Serrano had been attempting to return to Aruba when he disappeared. Details about the vessel he was traveling on, the number of people aboard and the circumstances surrounding the crossing have not been established.
His relatives believe the boat may have departed from Falcón municipality on the Paraguaná Peninsula, one of the Venezuelan coastal areas used for crossings toward the Dutch Caribbean islands.
It is also unclear what happened during the voyage or how Serrano ended up in the waters near Aruba. No information has been provided about others who may have been traveling aboard the vessel.
Serrano's death once again draws attention to clandestine sea crossings between Venezuela and the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Venezuelans seeking work or other opportunities on the islands have for years attempted the relatively short but potentially dangerous journey in small boats.
According to information compiled by relatives of missing migrants and cited in Venezuelan media, more than 100 people remain unaccounted for after attempting crossings along routes between Falcón state and Aruba and Curaçao. That figure has not been independently confirmed by authorities.
The case has renewed calls from affected families for Venezuelan and Dutch Caribbean authorities to investigate disappearances connected to these maritime routes and provide answers about relatives who never reached their destinations.
Venezuelan outlet Versión Final reported that families continue to seek information about loved ones who disappeared during such crossings, with many cases remaining unresolved.