54 killed in Mexico as truck carrying migrants crashes

Fifty four people have been confirmed killed with more than 100 injured after a truck carrying migrants, mostly from Central America, overturned in southern Mexico on Thursday, local authorities report.

The incident happened in Mexico’s Chiapas state, a border town with Guatemala, when the truck carrying dozens of migrants tried to enter Mexico, with the intention of moving on to the United States.

It is not immediately clear what caused the crash or why the victims were crammed into the truck but officials say many people who embark on the dangerous migrations from Central American countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, do so because of violence, corruption, food insecurity, and a lack of economic opportunity have left many with no other choice.

The dangerous journey, often organized by people smugglers, travels north through Mexico to reach the US border, the officials say.

READ ALSO: Subway overpass collapse kills 23 in Mexico, 65 injured

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who confirmed the accident, said some of the people who died included foreign nationals.

“My condolences to the victims and affected families. In communication with the State Government and Civil Protection, we make contact with the foreign ministries of the affected countries,” Ebrard wrote on Twitter.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also shared his condolences on Twitter.

“I deeply regret the tragedy caused by the overturning of a trailer in Chiapas carrying Central American migrants,” the President said. “It’s very painful. I hug the families of the victims,” he wrote.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now