Excess heat and exhaustion: What is known from the finding of 46 dead migrants in an abandoned truck in Texas

At least 46 migrants were found dead in and around an abandoned truck on the side of a highway in San Antonio on Monday. Texasone of the worst tragedies of its kind in recent years.

This finding comes five years after a deadly incident with similar characteristics that occurred in the same city in the center of Texasa few hours from the border with Mexico.

LOOK: The Mexican family that has been locked up in a Canadian church for 6 months so that they are not expelled

“Right now we have processed 46 bodies,” San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood told reporters.

The official indicated that 16 people – 12 adults and four children – had been taken to the hospital.

“The patients we saw were hot to the touch, suffering from heat stroke, heat exhaustion, as there was no sign of water in the vehicle. It was a refrigerated truck, but there was no evidence that there was a working air conditioning unit,” he added.

LOOK: Yuma, the city in the desert that becomes a gateway for thousands of migrants in the US

Authorities reported that three people are in custody. for the incident.

“Tonight we are facing a horrible human tragedy”lamented the mayor of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg, at a press conference.

“I urge you all to think compassionately and to pray for the dead, the injured and the families,” asked.

“We hope that those responsible for putting these people in such inhumane conditions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”added

Pope Francis expressed this Tuesday his “pain” for the migrant tragedies, referring to this drama and the death of dozens of people last week who tried to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla.

Saint Anthonylocated about 250 km from the border, it is a main route for smugglers.

The city has also been hit by a recent record heat wave that saw temperatures of 39.5C on Monday.

The vehicle was found in a road near highway I-35, a route that goes directly to the border with Mexico.

A large-scale operation was deployed at the scene involving police, firefighters and ambulances.

According to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, The authorities were first alerted at 5:50 p.m. local time.

“An employee in one of the buildings behind me heard a cry for help,” he told reporters. “I went to investigate, found the container with the doors partially open, opened it and took a look, finding several deceased individuals.”

The investigation of the event was delegated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which indicated in a statement that it launched an investigation for “alleged human trafficking.”

“A better life”

About 60 firefighters have been deployed to deal with the remains and will receive psychological support, confirmed their chief Charles Hood.

“You’re not supposed to open up a truck and find lots of dead bodies there,” He explained about the trauma his men are dealing with.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Republican who defends a hard line on immigration, He launched a harsh attack on US President Joe Biden, blaming his “deadly open border policies.”

“These deaths weigh on Biden”, Abbott wrote on Twitter.

His Democratic challenger in the November election, Beto O’Rourke, urged “urgent action” after the incident and called for “dismantle human trafficking networks and replace them with expanded avenues for legal migration” that reflect the values ​​and needs of the country.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard called the incident a “tragedy” and said the Mexican consul was on his way to the scene.

Ebrard said the nationalities of the victims are not yet known, but that the survivors included two Guatemalans.

Trucks like the one found in Saint Anthony They are a means of transportation widely used by migrants who intend to enter the United States.

The journey is extremely dangerousespecially since vehicles of this type do not usually have ventilation or cooling systems.

“The Lord have mercy on them. They hoped for a better life.” Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Archbishop of San Antonio, wrote on Twitter after the news broke.

“Once again, the lack of courage to deal with immigration reform is killing and destroying lives.”

Saint Anthony suffered a similar tragedy in 2017, when 10 people suffocated to death in a container traveling to USA and that it had a damaged air conditioner and clogged vents.

Dozens were hospitalized for heat stroke and dehydration, although the truck was believed to be carrying up to 200 people, most of whom fled when the vehicle stopped in a parking lot.

The truck driver, who claimed to be unaware that he was transporting some 100 people in his truck, was sentenced in April 2018 to life in prison without the option of parole.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.