Six people were found dead inside a sealed train car at a rail yard near the Texas-Mexico border on Sunday afternoon, according to local authorities. The discovery was made at about 2:30 p.m. local time as temperatures climbed above 105°F (41°C), according to a report by the Laredo Morning Times and confirmed by the chief medical examiner for Webb County, Texas.

Details of the Incident

The victims—five males and one female—were found inside a Union Pacific cargo train boxcar at a rail yard in Laredo, a major border city with Mexico. A Union Pacific employee reported the incident to police, who responded and confirmed that no one was found alive in the car, according to a statement from the Laredo police department.

Jose Baeza. An investigator with the Laredo Police Department, said the victims’ ages and the train’s origin were not immediately known; “These questions are at the crux of the ongoing fluid investigation,” he told NBC News. The rail yard. He explained. Is “miles long. ” likening it to a “loading dock at a seaport but for trains.”.

Heat Stroke as Likely Cause of Death

Preliminary findings from the Webb County medical examiner indicate that heat stroke may be the cause of death, given the extreme temperatures on Sunday. “It is believed that, although not confirmed, all the victims are from either Mexico or Honduras,” the medical examiner said. None of the victims have been identified as of yet, but authorities are using fingerprints and cell phone data to aid in identification. Local authorities are also in communication with consulates to notify families.

Jose Espinoza, a public information officer for the Laredo police department, told CNN that the investigation is at a preliminary stage and that the ages and immigration status of the deceased were not yet known. “It’s a very unfortunate event. It was too many lives that were lost,” he said.

Context of Border Crossings and Rail Traffic

Laredo is one of the busiest ports for international trade in the United States, with an average of 12 trains per day entering from Mexico and carrying nearly 1,500 loaded containers, according to the Laredo Morning Times. Union Pacific, one of the largest rail operators in the U.S., confirmed it was cooperating with authorities and expressed sadness over the incident in a statement.

According to data from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, as of 2024, Port Laredo accounted for 62% of the state’s land port trade, valued at nearly $340 billion. This incident has drawn comparisons to a 2024 event in which 20 migrants were found dehydrated and in need of rescue after being locked in a train compartment in Laredo.

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated it was aware of the incident but referred further questions to the Laredo police department and Texas Rangers. In recent days, the claim by the Trump administration that border crossings have dropped to zero has been challenged. According to CBP’s own figures, 8,000 people were apprehended trying to cross the border in March, marking a 15% increase compared to 2025.