Investigators reported that eight persons perished in the Henan province of central China after suffocating inside a refrigerated truck.

A local investigating team said in a statement made public on Sunday that the eight had been driven to the town of Hongzhuangyang “illegally” in a cold-chain van.

Investigators stated, “The driver found eight people unconscious and suffocating in the car,” and they were subsequently ruled dead.

Police are detaining the driver and other “responsible persons,” according to the statement.

It further stated that the case is being looked into.

It was unclear right away if the eight were foreigners or citizens of China.

AFP