By David Toro

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – The remains of fifteen people who were killed in a truck carrying migrants to Mexico was tipped over by a driver on Thursday. They were brought back to Guatemala and reunited to their families.

A truck carrying migrants crashed into a vehicle in Chiapas, killing 56 people. The remains of 19 victims are still missing, including 37 Guatemalan nationals.

Guatemala’s foreign ministry stated that there were 18 additional victims, whose identities are still being determined. Their bodies will however be repatriated within the next days.

This incident highlighted the dangers that migrants face when crossing the border to the United States. Many times, they are at the mercy of coyotes (human-traffickers). Over the last decade, dozens of migrants were killed in Mexico by violence and accidents.

According to Mexico’s government, the Mexican Air Force transferred 15 of those victims (all male) who were returned Thursday. Their bodies were then taken by the Guatemalan Airforce to their homes in caskets.

Mexican officials stated that 50 people were confirmed dead in the accident involving a trailer from Guatemala.

Other 74 Guatemalans were also discharged from several hospitals located in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas near the scene of the accident. Some 27 others are still in hospital, with more than half being in severe condition.

Following the incident, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala and other countries pledged to crack down https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-coordinate-with-mexico-regional-countries-crackdown-people-smuggling-2021-12-12 on international people-smuggling networks they blamed for the deaths.