At least 10 Cuban migrants have died after a truck transporting them overturned in the southeastern Mexican state of Veracruz, officials said on Saturday.
The truck, which was carrying at least 44 people, overturned early on Saturday morning on a highway near the town of Córdoba, according to the Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM).
Four people were seriously injured, and 30 others sustained minor injuries. Two people reportedly escaped without harm.
The migrants had reportedly paid smugglers to take them from the nearby state of Tabasco to the United States. The driver of the truck has been arrested by authorities and is facing criminal charges for transporting illegal migrants.
The victims are believed to have been mainly Cubans, but other nationalities may also have been on board, officials said. Mexico is a key transit country for migrants from all over the world trying to reach the U.S.
The authorities did not say how officials determine the cause of the accident, but they are investigating. This most recent tragedy has sparked renewed calls to prioritize the protection and safety of migrants crossing Mexico’s borders.
