Fifty four Burmese migrants die in failed refrigerated container

Phanida

Thursday, 10 April 2008 00:00

Chiang Mai – In a tragic incident 54 Burmese nationals died of suffocation in a freezer truck while trying to enter Thailand illegally on Thursday. They were buried in a Buddhist temple in Ranong province of Thailand today. The bodies of the illegal immigrants, including 37 women were temporarily buried at the Temple but can be exhumed if relatives want to claim the bodies, a local resident in Ranong said. The Burmese nationals, who were proceeding to Phukhet from the Thai-Burmese town of Ranong in a refrigerated container died when the air-conditioning system failed. Reports said another 67 Burmese citizens were rescued from the same vehicle. "The rest of the people were arrested and are in police custody. The dead were temporarily buried in the Buddhist monastery. The police have taken their fingerprints and seized their documents," the local resident told Mizzima. The local added that 20 out of the 67 rescued people were admitted to hospital as they fainted in the container, when police stopped the vehicle. Police are in hot pursuit of the truck driver and the trafficker, who brought the 121 people from different places in Burma including Kyaiktho, Thathong, Moulmein, Chaungsone towns in Mon state, the local said. The dead Burmese citizens were buried temporarily so as to allow relatives to claim the bodies later, if they so desired, the police said. Thai authorities are reportedly negotiating with Burmese authorities to deport those who survived back to Burma. The Thai-Burmese border town of Ranong reportedly is home to an estimated over 100,000 Burmese migrant workers. According to laws in Thailand, Burmese migrants arrested could face up to 20 days in custody, a fine of 2000 baht and deportation back to the Thai-Burmese border. < Prev   Next >