Officials: Guatemalan citizen among dead in S.A. from smuggling operation, death toll climbs to 10

Eldia Contreras wipes away a tear as she takes part in a vigil at San Fernando Cathedral for victims who died Sunday in what authorities describe as an immigrant-smuggling attempt gone wrong. Eldia Contreras wipes away a tear as she takes part in a vigil at San Fernando Cathedral for victims who died Sunday in what authorities describe as an immigrant-smuggling attempt gone wrong. Photo: Eric Gay /Associated Press Photo: Eric Gay /Associated Press Image 1 of / 56 Caption Close Officials: Guatemalan citizen among dead in S.A. from smuggling operation, death toll climbs to 10 1 / 56 Back to Gallery

A 20-year-old from Guatemala was among the 10 people who died during a smuggling operation that ended in San Antonio, according to that country's foreign affairs ministry.

Officials were called to a Walmart parking lot at 8538 S. Interstate 35 and Texas 16 after a person in the trailer approached an employee asking for water. Eight male immigrants were found dead inside the trailer. Two more have since died.

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The Guatemalan government didn't give the deceased national's gender but said the Guatemala City resident died from heat exposure and asphyxiation.

The Guatemalan Consul General in McAllen also spoke to two citizens of that country, a 17-year-old and a 23-year old, who'd been taken to San Antonio hospitals. They told her that they crossed the border in Laredo before being transported in the trailer and that their final destination was Houston. Three other Guatemalans were traveling with them, according to the statement from the foreign affairs ministry.

More than two dozen people were taken from the trailer to local hospitals in critical condition. Although an official cause of death has not been determined, a San Antonio Police Department news release states the immigrants are believed to have died as a result of heat exposure/asphyxiation.

The trailer's air conditioning was not working Saturday and according to the National Weather Service, the inside of the vehicle could have reached 115 degrees in a half hour.

READ MORE: Texas officials have strong words after multiple deaths, dozens found in sweltering trailer

Temperatures in San Antonio climbed to 100 degrees by 6 p.m. Saturday.

Staff writers Guillermo Contreras and Emilie Eaton contributed to this report.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5