Six bodies found in freight train car in US

Railway transport company employees discovered six bodies in a freight train car in Texas, near the Mexican border; the cause of death remains unknown.

Employees of the Union Pacific railway transport company discovered six bodies on 10/5 in a train car at the Laredo, Texas, freight station, near the US-Mexico border. The Laredo Police Department stated that officials are investigating the cause of their deaths.

"This is a deeply tragic incident. Too many people have died," said Jose Espinoza, a representative of the Laredo Police Department.

Officials have not yet identified the identities, ages, or immigration status of the victims, nor the train's point of origin. "These issues are the focus of the ongoing investigation," Espinoza added.

A Union Pacific freight train at Laredo, Texas, freight station on 10/5. *KGNS*.

Temperatures in the area where the train stopped reached about 32 degrees C on 10/5, although it is not yet clear if the heat is related to the victims' deaths.

Joe Baeza, spokesperson for Laredo police, said that this freight station stretches for kilometers. "Imagine a port's cargo loading and unloading area, but for trains. This is where they load and unload many freight cars," he added.

Laredo, located on the Mexican border, has one of Texas's largest commercial border crossings. As of 2024, the Laredo crossing accounted for 62% of the state's total border trade value, valued at nearly 340 billion USD, according to data from the Texas State Comptroller's Office.

Information on Union Pacific's website indicates that the company operates a cross-border rail network and is the sole railway enterprise serving all border crossings connected to Mexico.