MIGRANTS aiming to reach the United States are once again crossing the Darien Gap in large numbers, officials in Colombia said on Monday, after a strike by local boat captains ended.

Around 8,000 were stranded for much of last week in the small town of Necocli on the Caribbean coast.

Deputy Mayor Johann Wachter Espitia said that 3,000 migrants had left the town since Friday on boats headed towards the Darien jungle, with another 400 people waiting and sleeping in tents, as they gather money to pay for their tickets.