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- BBC News World
March 28, 2023 at 08:16 GMT
Updated 45 minutes
Image copyrightLuis Torres/EPA-EFE
Subtitle,
Agents from the National Guard of Mexico, along with firefighters and paramedics, are participating in the rescue and care work for those affected by the fire at the migrant center.
At least 39 people died and several were injured in a fire at a center of the National Institute for Migration of Mexico (INM) in Ciudad Juárez on the border with the United States.
This was officially confirmed by the agency in a statement released through their account Twitter.
The incident occurred in the facilities that the INM has in the International Stanton-Lerdo Bridge in northern Ciudad Juárez, neighboring the US city of El Paso, Texas, just before 10 p.m. Monday.
The body betrayed that 68 men “of legal age” and “from Central and South America” were in the area at the time of the event. The so-called “Ciudad Juárez Provisional Stay” is a center used by Mexican authorities to protect migrants attempting to enter the United States illegally.
The President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is expected to provide more information on the case at his morning press conference.
investigations begin
The origin of the fire is unknown, but several witnesses assured local media that it started in the area where the male migrants were being held, suggesting the fire may have been started by the migrants themselves.
This thesis is strengthened by the announcement of the immigration authorities. In its statement, the agency expressed its firm disapproval of “the acts that led to this tragedy.”
The INM also reported that 29 migrants who survived the fire were taken to four area hospitals to treat their injuries. However, he admitted his condition was “tender-serious”.
Firefighters, emergency services and members of the National Guard have moved to the vicinity of the accident site to put out the flames and tend to the victims.
Rescuers who took part in the relief work revealed that most of the migrants staying at the center were from Turkey Venezuelan nationalityassured one of them to the agency AFP.
Vinagly, a Venezuelan, stood outside the compound’s gates, desperate for information about her 27-year-old husband, who was being held there.
“They took him away in an ambulance, but the officials don’t tell us anything. Our relatives may be dead and not informing us“She told AFP, adding that her husband had documents allowing him to stay in Mexico.
Image copyrightJOSE LUIS GONZALEZ/Portal
Subtitle,
Vinagly, a Venezuelan migrant, was looking for information on the whereabouts of her husband, who was being held at the disaster center.
the retaining wall
The presence of migrants in Ciudad Juárez has increased in recent months, especially after Washington tightened its stance on illegal immigration and opted to use what is known as Title 42.
Title 42 is an old piece of legislation that allows the government to immediately deport undocumented immigrants arriving by land. alleged health reasons.
America is experiencing a historic migration flow, with 2.76 million undocumented immigrants detained at the US-Mexico border in 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.
The United Nations-affiliated organization has also reported that the number of people crossing Mexican territory to travel to the United States increased by 8% on Mexican territory.
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