55 migrants killed in truck crash in southern Mexico

MEXICO/BOGOTA, Colombia

At least 55 migrants were killed and dozens more injured when the cargo truck they were traveling in crashed Thursday into a bridge in Chiapas, southern Mexico, local authorities reported.

Some 160 migrants were in the trailer of the truck, whose driver fled the scene after the accident, according to the provincial Prosecutor's Office.

According to Mexico’s Civil Protection Department, the cause of the crash is still unknown, but local authorities said the driver may have lost control due to excessive speed.

Saying that 95 of the migrants were from Guatemala and also made up the bulk of the casualties, it said the other migrants were from Honduras, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.

Bordering Central America, Chiapas is one of Mexico’s most prominent hotspots for migration, where most Latin American migrants trying to make their way to the US border enter Mexican territory.

Out of over 108,000 asylum seekers reported in Mexico this January to October, more than 74,000 were registered in the city of Tapachula in southeast Chiapas, where according to rough estimates there are three migrants for every 10 inhabitants.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed at a news conference that most of those who lost their lives were from Guatemala.

“Serious accident in Chiapas with victims of nationals of other countries. 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,” tweeted Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

Chiapas Governor Rutilio Escandon expressed his condolences for the victims on Twitter. He instructed authorities to determine who is responsible for the accident according to the law.