SAN ANTONIO-( MaraviPost)-At least 50 migrants have died in United States’ deadliest disaster after being abandoned in a lorry trailer in San Antonio.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed the news of the tragedy in a statement adding that among the victims were 39 males and 11 females.
“A city worker heard a cry for help from the truck on a San Antonio back road shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday and the search led to the discovery of the gruesome scene,” said McManus.
He added that forty-six people were found dead at the scene while four died later in hospitals. Among them, at least 22 were from Mexico, seven from Guatemala, and two from Honduras.
Among the survivors, 16 including children, were taken to hospitals alive after suffering from apparent heat exhaustion and dehydration as there were no signs of water in the truck, AP reported.
Other reports indicate that the truck was a refrigerated tractor-trailer but there was no visible working A/C unit on that rig.
In response to the disaster, US president Joe Biden has pledged to continue to do everything possible to stop smugglers who work to sneak people into the US without permission in exchange for pay which often results in deadly disasters.
“This incident underscores the need to go after the multibillion-dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and leading to far too many innocent deaths,” said Biden in a statement.
The White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also disclosed that President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation
She was quoted by Rolling Stone saying: “The president is closely monitoring the absolutely horrific and heartbreaking reports. The fact of the matter is, the border is closed, which is in part why you see people trying to make this dangerous journey using smuggling networks.
“Our prayers are with those who tragically lost their lives, their loved ones as well as those still fighting for their lives. We’re also grateful for the swift work of federal, state and local first responders.”
Meanwhile, an investigation into the matter coordinated by the US Department of Homeland Security has been launched and the Mexico will join investigations in the US.
San Antonio lies about 250 kilometers (150 miles) from the border and it is a major transit route for people smugglers.
On Monday, the area was gripped by a record-breaking heat wave with temperatures rising up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.5 degrees Celsius).
In 2021, at least 650 migrants died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency that monitors migration.
About 557 migrants died along the border from October 2020 through September 2021.