The bodies of 46 people have been found inside an 18-wheeler truck in San Antonio, Texas.
As reported by The New York Times, the bodies of 46 men and women were discovered on Monday in and around an abandoned tractor-trailer. At least 16 others - 12 adults and four children - were transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for apparent dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Outside temperatures of up to 103°F were recorded on Monday.
City officials say that they are all believed to be undocumented migrants who were crossed into the United States from Mexico as part of a human-trafficking scheme.
The San Antonio Police Department has described it as a "horrific tragedy" and is believed to be one of the worst instances of migrant death in the United States in recent years.
In a press conference on Monday, Chief William P. McManus revealed that police first received a call about the track at around 5:50PM (local time).
After hearing "cries for help", a worker in a nearby building "came out to investigate" and found the truck "partially open".
Police, fire trucks, and ambulances were all dispatched to the scene at the 9600 block of Quintana Road.
An official from the San Antonio Fire Department said "stacks of bodies" were found inside the truck, with no signs of water in the truck, per Reuters.
Three people are now in custody, says McManus, although it is unclear if they are "absolutely connected" to the deaths.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has responded to the deaths by blaming President Joe Biden’s "open border policies".
"These deaths are on Biden. They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law," Abbott wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has asked people for compassion at this time, tweeting: "Migrants seeking asylum should always be treated as a humanitarian crisis, but this evening we're facing a horrific human tragedy.
"More than 40 hopeful lives were lost. I urge you to think compassionately, pray for the deceased, the ailing, and their families at this moment."
The Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia Siller, also called for the Biden administration to address immigration reform, writing: "Once again, the lack of courage to deal with immigration reform is killing and destroying lives. We do not learn. God teach us to change. Humanity is at stake constantly. We pray, we love, we trust. Give us strength! We want to do your will."
Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
