Bulgarian authorities find 18 migrants dead in an abandoned truck 'illegally transporting' around 40 people

The Bulgarian interior ministry, on Friday (February 17) said that they found at least 18 migrants dead as they were hiding in a truck with at least 40 others “under some wood”. This comes as the European Union nation has been struggling with illegal border crossings and this incident may be one of the deadliest involving migrants. According to local media reports, the migrants were to be transported from the Bulgarian-Turkish border to Dragoman which is close to the border with neighbouring, Serbia.

"According to initial information, the truck was illegally transporting around 40 migrants hidden under some wood. According to what we know so far, 18 of them have died," said the Bulgarian authorities, in a statement, as per AFP. Additionally, the interior ministry also said that the survivors are being taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Bulgarian health emergency centre also told the state news agency BTA, eight were rushed to the hospital in grave condition. According to reports, the local residents alerted the police about the vehicle which was found abandoned near the village of Lokorsko which is 12 km away from Sofia. The statement also said that the police are looking for the truck's drivers who fled and are believed to be human traffickers.

According to the Bulgarian Health Minister, Asen Medzhidiev, 34 migrants including five children were rushed to thehospitals in the capital city as some were in critical but stable condition, reported Reuters. He added, “There has been a lack of oxygen to those who were locked in this truck. They were freezing, wet, they have not eaten for several days.”

The EU nation which serves as a gateway to the 27-nation bloc has been trying to tighten security along its border with Turkiye in a bid to stop the increasing number of migrants crossing. Notably, last year, Austria and the Netherlands blocked Sofia’s bid to join the Schengen border-free zone citing security concerns.

This also comes amid Bulgaria facing accusations of abusing migrants trying to cross the 234-kilometre border with Turkiye as asylum seekers have reportedly said that they have been locked up, stripped and beaten.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE