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An 18-wheeler was abandoned during a human smuggling operation, according to authorities. A total of 48 undocumented migrants were found dead inside of a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas.
More than a dozen were hospitalized and it’s unclear whether they will all survive. The 18-wheeler contained roughly 100 migrants.
The deceased victims show evidence of heat-related causes of death as the weather was 102 degrees in Texas. Survivors were suffering heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott put blame on Joe Biden for fundamentally undermining security at the southern border.
“At Least 42 People Found Dead Inside Truck Carrying Migrants In Texas. These deaths are on Biden,” Abbott sai. “They are a result of his deadly open border policies. They show the deadly consequences of his refusal to enforce the law.”
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said, “This is nothing short of a horrific human tragedy.”
“The plight of migrants seeking refuge is always a humanitarian crisis but tonight we are dealing with a horrific human tragedy,” the mayor continued.
“We hope those responsible for putting these people in such inhumane conditions are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the mayor said.
The situation is now a federal investigation. Police have said three people are in custody, but did not specify if the individuals were suspects in the investigation.
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Authorities at the scene confirmed 46 individuals were found deceased, none of which were children. Officials did not say whether the individuals had migrated from Mexico or elsewhere.
Sixteen individuals from the tractor-trailer were transported to the hospital, including 12 adults and four children.
San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus said a nearby worker notified authorities about the tractor-trailer shortly before 6 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, officials found dozens of deceased inside the back of the transport vehicle.
McManus clarified the tractor-trailer was refrigerated, however, the refrigeration system was not functioning.
He also said there was no drinkable water found inside the trailer.
Fox News has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security.
The San Antonio Fire Department similarly described a nightmarish scene.
“We’re not supposed to open up a truck and see stacks of bodies in there,” an official said.
