Authorities in South Texas are investigating after six people were found dead inside a railcar near the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo.
The bodies were discovered Sunday afternoon at a rail yard near Mile Marker 13 and Jim Young Way, according to the Laredo Police Department.
Officials said a Union Pacific employee inspecting a stopped train before it continued north alerted authorities after finding multiple people inside a trailer boxcar.
Investigators said all six individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s a very unfortunate event. It was too many lives that were lost,” Laredo Police Department public information officer Jose Espinoza told CNN.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not yet confirmed the identities or immigration status of the victims.
The Webb County chief medical examiner said that the victims included five men and one woman. Fingerprints are being analyzed to help identify them.
The medical examiner said the preliminary cause of death appears to be heat stroke. Temperatures in the area reportedly climbed as high as 105 degrees Sunday.
“It is believed that, although not confirmed, all the victims are from either Mexico or Honduras,” the medical examiner told NBC News.
Officials said the rail yard spans several miles and serves as a major hub for international freight traffic moving through Laredo.
“Imagine a loading dock at a seaport, but for trains,” investigator Jose Baeza said in an interview with NBC News. “This is where they load and unload a lot of rail cars.”
Union Pacific said it is cooperating with investigators.
“Union Pacific is saddened by this incident and is working closely with law enforcement to investigate,” company spokesperson Daryl Bjoraas said in a statement, per The Guardian.
Authorities said the victims’ cell phones have been turned over to investigators in hopes of obtaining information that could assist with identification efforts. Officials are also coordinating with consulates to notify relatives.
The discovery comes amid continued concerns about dangerous travel conditions faced by migrants moving through South Texas. In 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers rescued 20 migrants from a train compartment in Laredo after they were found suffering from dehydration.
Laredo remains one of the nation’s busiest land ports for trade with Mexico, with multiple freight trains crossing the border daily.
