Two migrants died and at least a dozen more were injured after becoming trapped in a train car in Uvalde County, Texas, police said Friday.
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin told ABC News that a total of 17 people were trapped in the container. Two were deceased, five went by life flight to San Antonio and another seven were transported in ambulances. Three migrants were "okay," the mayor said.
The initial 911 call came in at 3:50 p.m. local time from an "unknown third-party caller" advising there were numerous immigrants "suffocating" inside of the train, Uvalde police said in a statement posted on Facebook. U.S. Border Patrol were able to stop the train two to three miles outside of Knippa, Texas.
The conditions of those hospitalized is unknown at this time, Uvalde police said.
The incident was not a derailment, a source told ABC News.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tweeted a statement Friday evening thanking Border Patrol agents who responded to the scene and Homeland Security Investigations agents supporting the investigation.
"We are heartbroken to learn of yet another tragic incident of migrants taking the dangerous journey," Mayorkas said.
He added, "We will work with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office to hold those responsible. Smugglers are callous and only care about making a profit."
McLaughlin said "we need to look at the southern border this happens every day, if it's not my town it's somebody else's or our county…It's every day down here."
The portion of the highway, which runs parallel to train tracks in the area, was closed between Uvalde and Sabinal but reopened late Friday, police said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
