42 people found dead in back of truck

The bodies were discovered inside the 18-wheeler in Texas on Monday (local time).They were found on Quintana Road in San Antonio, with 16 survivors rushed to area hospitals in varying conditions, KSAT reported, citing multiple police sources, reports the New York Post.Local journalists near the scene reported spotting yellow tarps near the back of the open truck, as well as a large “mass casualty – evacuation” ambulance rushing by and dozens of officers from the San Antonio Police Department, Homeland Security and Border Patrol on the scene. The tractor-trailer was abandoned in a remote area near railroad tracks and the driver remains at large, according to the New York Times. Officers and first responders were walking the train tracks with thermal imaging cameras to find any possible survivors and the driver, KSAT reported. The deceased are believed to all have been undocumented migrants who crossed into the US illegally, according to the Times. Officers are investigating how the 42 people died. Temperatures in San Antonio reached a high of 103 degrees amid an ongoing heat wave. The temperature inside a vehicle can reach over 115 degrees when the outside temperature is just 70 degrees, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.The death toll was initially reported at 20 people. The new count makes the tragedy one of the deadliest incidents of migrant trafficking in recent years. This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au