18 migrants found dead in a concealment of a lorry on Sofia ring road (updated)

18 migrants were found dead, likely to have suffocated, in a concealment of a lorry on Sofia's Ring Road on February 17.

More than 40 people were travelling in the lorry. According to intial information, they were from Afghanistan.

Medical teams which arrived at the scene confirmed the death of 18 of them. Five ambulance teams were dispatched to the scene and provided first aid to the injured.

According to the information of the Emergency Medical Centre, 4 people were transported to "Pirogov" hospital in Sofia, 8 were taken to the Military Medical Academy, 2 were admitted to “Saint Anna” hospital.

The three patients admitted in “Pirogov” emergency hospital are in a serious condition, with life-threatening injuries. They had no food their clothes were wet. They were suffering from lack of oxygen.

According to BNT sources, the migrants were being transported from the area of the Bulgarian-Turkish border to Dragoman and the area of Bulgaria’s border with Serbia.

The director of the Sofia police, Kaloyan Miltenov, traveled to the scene. The hea dof Sofia City Prosecutor's office, Iliyana Kirilova; Deputy Head of Sofia City Prosecutor's office, Ivo Iliev and Sofia City Prosecutor's office spokesperson Hristo Krastev are also travelling to the area of the tragic incident.

The investigation into the migrants' deaths will be taken over by the National Investigation Service. Borislav Sarafov, Deputy Prosecutor General and Director of the National Investigation Service, is also on his way to the scene.