20 migrants found dead in truck on Austria highway

At least 20 migrants have been found dead inside a truck on a highway in Austria, police said on Thursday, the latest tragedy involving people desperately trying to reach Europe.

The vehicle, which contained between 20 and 50 bodies, was found in an emergency lane off the highway near the border with Hungary, police spokesman <g data-gr-id="32">Hans Peter</g> <g data-gr-id="31">Doskozil</g> said at a press conference.

“Today is a dark day... This tragedy affects us all deeply,” Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said. 

“Human traffickers are criminals. Anyone still thinking that <g data-gr-id="36">they’re</g> kind helpers cannot be helped.” 

It is thought that the truck had been parked in the area since Wednesday. 

“We cannot confirm yet how they died,” <g data-gr-id="34">Doskozil</g> added.

Forensics teams at the scene said it would take several days to secure evidence.

The minister announced Austria would tighten its border controls and intensify checks on international trains in the coming weeks. She also called on the other 27 member states of the European Union to show “zero tolerance” for people smugglers.

The gruesome find comes as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Balkan leaders are meeting in Vienna to discuss how to tackle together the biggest migration crisis to hit Europe since World War II.

They reacted with shock to the news of the dead migrants.

“Just another terrible incident, illustrating the urgent need for quick and determined common action,” tweeted the EU’s commissioner for enlargement, Johannes  Hahn. This year has seen record numbers of people trying to reach the EU by sea and land as they flee conflicts in Africa, Asia and the 

<g data-gr-id="37">Middle East</g>.