A wooden boat carrying 14 bodies in an advanced state of decomposition was discovered drifting in the Venezuelan Atlantic Ocean, approximately 180 nautical miles off Punta Barima in Delta Amacuro state, near the Orinoco River.

Local fishermen working in Venezuelan territorial waters spotted the vessel and approached it, finding the lifeless bodies aboard. The boat, which lacked an outboard motor and appeared to be oar-powered, was ill-equipped for the region's challenging maritime conditions.

The deceased were wearing green raincoats, and orange life jackets were also found on board. Due to the state of decomposition, identification has been challenging. Forensic experts in anthropology, dentistry, and pathology are conducting examinations at the National Service of Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Ciudad Guayana.

Authorities have yet to confirm the nationality of the victims or whether they were migrants. No relatives had come forward to claim the bodies as of Thursday afternoon, according to reports from the outlet *El Pitazo*.

In response, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces deployed recovery units from Barrancas del Orinoco in Monagas state to Punta Barima. The Scientific, Criminal, and Forensic Investigations Corps (CICPC) is leading the investigation, collecting samples and performing autopsies to determine the cause of death and origin of the vessel.

Unofficial sources suggest the boat may have been caught in severe weather, drifting into Venezuelan waters after a possible shipwreck. It remains unclear whether others were on board and survived or are still missing.

Authorities are investigating possible links to irregular migration or other maritime incidents.