Late on Monday, a fire broke out at the National Immigration Institute (INM) facility, located in Ciudad Juarez near the US border. According to officials, more than three dozen migrants have lost their lives due to this tragic incident.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, preliminary reports suggest that it started due to a short circuit in one of the air conditioning units. The flames quickly spread through the overcrowded facility where around 100 people were being held.
Local firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control after several hours of battling it. Unfortunately, by then, dozens of migrants had already lost their lives.
In a statement released by INM officials, they expressed grief over this tragedy and extended condolences to families affected by this unfortunate event. They also assured that they would carry out an immediate investigation into what led up to this catastrophic incident.
This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred at an immigration facility in Mexico. In June last year, ten undocumented immigrants died from dehydration and suffocation inside a truck while being smuggled through southern Mexico.
The news of this latest deadly fire has sent shockwaves across both sides of the border as authorities continue their efforts towards bettering conditions for migrants seeking asylum or hoping for better economic opportunities in North America.
As investigations are ongoing and families await answers regarding loved ones who perished during this horrific event - our hearts go out to those impacted by yet another senseless loss of life at a time when compassion is needed most.