Six charged over deaths of 18 Afghans who suffocated in truck in Bulgaria

Bulgarian prosecutors have charged six people over the deaths of 18 Afghans who suffocated in a truck abandoned near the capital, Sofia.

The bodies were found inside a vehicle on Friday, in the deadliest incident linked to people-smuggling in Bulgaria as the country struggles with a rise in illicit border crossings.

The 18 victims died from suffocation.

They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and participating in organised crime and people-smuggling.

One of the suspects remains at large and was charged in absentia, while two others who had been arrested are not expected to be charged.

Some of the 34 people who were rescued remain in hospital, with some being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after inhaling exhaust pipe gases.

The victims, believed to be aged between 13 and 35, had paid up to 7,000 euros each to the smugglers, Sarafov said.

The hiding places were lined with aluminium foil to make the presence of people undetectable to thermal cameras, he added.

Bulgaria, an EU member that serves as a gateway for many people hoping to enter the bloc, has been trying to tighten security to halt the rising numbers seeking to cross its southern border with Turkey.

The Balkan nation has also faced accusations of abuses by security forces trying to stop people from entering, with asylum seekers saying they have been pushed back, locked up, stripped and beaten.

Bulgaria has denied the allegations.