(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Two suspected undocumented immigrants suffocated to death aboard
a freight train and 10 others in need of medical care were taken by
helicopter or ambulance to hospital on Friday in south Texas,
police said, trend reports citing al
arabiya .
Officials in Uvlade, Texas, received an anonymous emergency 911
call advising them that numerous immigrants were suffocating inside
a train, Uvalde police said in a statement. At least 15 immigrants
needed immediate medical attention, police said.
US Border Patrol officials were notified and able to stop the
train just east of Knippa, Texas, in Uvalde County, police said.
Officials closed US Highway 90 temporarily to land the
helicopters.
Federal investigators were looking into the possibility of human
smuggling, investigators with the US Department of Homeland
Security said.
The tragedy occurred near the site of a more grave incident last
year, when 53 migrants died in the back of a tractor trailer amid
the sweltering heat during a smuggling attempt.
Dozens of migrants were packed into the back of a truck found on
the outskirts of San Antonio on June 27.
Two Americans have been indicted in federal court in that case
and could face the death penalty if convicted. Two Mexicans have
been charged with lesser crimes.
On Friday, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez suspected the
migrants were dehydrated due to the heat of the train cars during
warm weather, KSAT television reported.
“It's sad to see that so many undocumented immigrants were found
in this condition, and two of them lost their lives. It's
heartbreaking,” KSAT quoted Rodriguez as saying.
The Union Pacific railroad would lead the investigation, Uvalde
police said.
The Mexican consulate in Eagle Pass, Texas, said on Twitter it
was aware of the incident and in communication with US officials to
determine if any of the victims were Mexican.
Homeland Security had yet to determine the nationalities of the
victims or whether any families or children were among them, a
department official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on
condition of anonymity.
Knippa is about 72 miles (115 km) west of San Antonio and about
120 miles (190 km) from the Mexican border.
It is near the town of Uvalde, which was the scene of a mass
shooting at an elementary school in May last year that killed 19
school children and two teachers.