46 people have died and 16 others transported to hospital after being found in a tractor-trailer near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
The shocking discovery was made yesterday near the intersection of Cassin Drive and Quintana Road in Southwest San Antonio. A local official revealed the news with the promise of anonymity, adding that authorities believed the bodies were those of migrants.
In a horrifying photo taken from the scene, first responders can be seen alongside the 18-wheeler wherein the bodies were found.
Police chief William McManus told how the abandoned truck had been found by a city worker who heard cries for help coming from inside.
According to reports, 16 people were taken to local hospitals, including four children.
San Antonio’s mayor Ron Nirenberg labeled it a “horrific human tragedy”.
“There are, that we know of, 46 individuals who are no longer with us, who had families, who were likely trying to find a better life. And we have 16 folks who are fighting for their lives in the hospital,” he said.
Texas governor Greg Abbott, meanwhile, blamed the incident on President Joe Biden’s administration. He said that “open borders” had led to the tragedy unfolding.
As per The Independent, a San Antonio fire department official said that “stacks of bodies” had been found inside the truck, with no signs of water despite the suffocatingly hot temperature.
“We’re not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there. None of us come to work imagining that,” said San Antonio fire chief Charles Hood.
“None of these people were able to extricate themselves out of the truck, so they were still in there awaiting help when we arrived. Too weak in state to actually get out and help themselves.”
The Department of Homeland Security say there are investigating the incident.
The Washington Post say that the truck found in San Antonio has US and Texas Department of Transportation registration numbers. They added that state records were able to match the numbers to a man from Alamo.
That man’s son-in-law, Isaac Limon, said that the number on the truck was being fraudulently used by those running the smuggling operation.
“It was a perfect setup,” Isaac told the outlet.
“The truck is here. I’m looking at it right now. Sad to say, but he’s a bit of a victim, too, because people believe it was him.”
My word. Rest in peace to all the people who lost their lives in this tragedy.
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Meanwhile, leave a comment if you think more should be done to open up appropriate migrant channels into the US.
