A man has died after 35 people – including children – were found in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks. The survivors – believed to be illegal migrants from the Indian subcontinent and suffering from severe dehydration and hypothermia – are being treated at nearby hospitals,” the BBC said.
The group were found when dockyard workers heard “screaming and banging” from inside a container as the ship was being unloaded at 6.37am, said Supt Trevor Roe of Essex Police.
“The discovery was made today when the ship, which had arrived from Zeebrugge, Belgium, was being unloaded. Essex Police has launched a homicide investigation and officers are being assisted by their Belgian counterparts,” the report added.
Roe said staff at the docks were alerted to the container by “screaming and banging” from inside. He added that the other containers on the freighter were being searched to make sure there were no other people inside.
“It is not known where the container, one of 64 aboard the P&O vessel, originated. he East of England Ambulance service, which was called to the docks at 06:37 BST, sent seven ambulances, two rapid response cars, two doctors and a hazardous area response team to the scene,” the BBC said.