Daijiworld Media Network – Texas

Texas, May 11: Six people were found dead inside a cargo train boxcar in the US border city of Laredo on Sunday, authorities said.

The bodies were discovered in a Union Pacific freight train at a rail yard in Laredo, located around 160 miles south of San Antonio.

According to Jose Espinoza, public information officer with the Laredo Police Department, the bodies were found shortly after 3.30 pm local time during a routine inspection of rail cars.

Laredo police spokesperson Joe Baeza said the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear and an investigation is underway.

Officials said no survivors were found inside the boxcar.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether heat played a role in the deaths, although temperatures in Laredo on Sunday afternoon were reported to be in the low to mid-90s Fahrenheit.

Union Pacific said it was saddened by the incident and was cooperating closely with law enforcement agencies investigating the case.

The immigration status and identities of the deceased have not yet been established, officials added.

The US Customs and Border Protection said the investigation was being handled by the Laredo Police Department along with Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Rangers.

“It’s a very unfortunate event. Too many lives were lost,” Espinoza said.

Laredo is considered one of Texas’ biggest trade gateways with Mexico and accounts for a major share of land-port trade between the two countries.