The 23-metre fishing vessel La Lupita ran aground near Paraguaipoa in the Gulf of Venezuela on the morning of October 31, 2026. According to local media reports, no one was found on board.

The Venezuelan-flagged vessel, bearing the identification YYP7903, came ashore in Guajira municipality, Zulia state. It measures 23 metres in length and six metres in beam. The circumstances in which La Lupita was left without a crew remain unknown.

Vessel may have been adrift for some time

Local residents said waves and wind pushed La Lupita towards the coast. Those who boarded reported finding no food or personal belongings, leading them to believe the vessel had been unattended for an extended period.

However, the duration and route of its drift have not been officially confirmed. It is also unclear when or why the crew left the vessel.

Reports of looting after the grounding

Following the grounding, some residents began boarding La Lupita. Reports later emerged of people removing metal components and other materials for sale.

Other members of the community opposed the stripping of the vessel and called for it to be protected. According to residents quoted in reports published on November 2, authorities had not arrived at the site at that time.

Circumstances remain unclear

Reports published on November 3 noted that authorities had not issued public statements. The available coverage provides no confirmed information about the crew’s whereabouts, the cause of the drift or the launch of an official investigation.

The circumstances behind La Lupita’s arrival near Paraguaipoa remain unclear. No plans to secure or refloat the vessel were identified in those reports.