At least 53 mostly Central Americans were killed when the lorry they were in overturned in southern Mexico, in one of the worst accidents to befall migrants risking their lives to reach the United States.
The trailer broke open and spilled out migrants when the lorry crashed on a sharp bend outside the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in the state of Chiapas, according to civil defence authorities.
The Attorney General's office put the death toll at 53.
"It took a bend, and because of the weight of us people inside, we all went with it," said a Guatemalan man sitting at the scene in footage broadcast on social media.
"The trailer couldn't handle the weight of people."
Several dozen people were injured and taken to hospitals in Chiapas, which borders Guatemala. More than 100 people were inside the trailer, authorities said.
Men, women and children were among the dead, the Chiapas state government said. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his sorrow at the "very painful" incident.
Migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Central America typically trek through Mexico to reach the US border, and sometimes cram into large trucks organised by smugglers in extremely dangerous conditions.
"This shows us that irregular migration is not the best way," Kevin Lopez, a spokesman for Guatemala's presidency, told Milenio television.
He did not know how many Guatemalan victims there were.
El Salvador's foreign minister, Alexandra Hill, said her government was checking whether Salvadorans had died.
Mexico offered lodging and humanitarian visas to the survivors, and Chiapas Governor Rutilio Escandon said those responsible for the accident would be held to account.
Officials in Mexico routinely come across migrants packed into trailers, including 600 people found hidden in the back of two trucks in eastern Mexico last month.
The journey north from Mexico's border with Guatemala is perilous and expensive, and many migrants fall prey to criminal gangs en route. In January, 19 people, mostly migrants, were massacred with suspected police involvement in northern Mexico.
Record numbers of people have been arrested on the US-Mexico border this year as migrants seek to capitalise on President Joe Biden's pledge to pursue more humane immigration policies than his hardline predecessor, Donald Trump.
Authorities in Chiapas have attempted to persuade migrants to not form caravans to walk thousands of miles to the US border, and have begun transporting people from the southern city of Tapachula to other regions of the country.
The Biden administration has also urged migrants not to leave their homelands for the United States, and this week saw the restart of a policy initiated under Mr Trump to send asylum seekers back to Mexico to await their court hearings.
Some critics argue that tougher policies push migrants into the hands of human smugglers, putting their lives at risk.
The authorities "generate smuggled migration that generates billions of dollars in profits", said migrant activist Ruben Figueroa.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
