<p>More than 150 Central American migrants were found abandoned in an overcrowded truck in southern Mexico, authorities said Thursday.</p>.<p>A routine inspection led to the discovery of 144 Guatemalans, six Nicaraguans and three Salvadorans in the vehicle left near a highway, the security secretary in the state of Chiapas said.</p>.<p>They received medical care and food before being handed over to the immigration authorities, the secretary said.</p>.<p>Officials in Chiapas, which borders Guatemala, have stepped up efforts to find US-bound migrants traveling in trucks -- one of the most dangerous methods used by people smugglers in Mexico.</p>.<p>In December, 56 US-bound migrants from Central America were killed and dozens injured when the truck they were traveling in overturned in southern Mexico.</p>.<p>Around 6,430 migrants have died or disappeared en route to the United States since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration.</p>.<p>Of those, 850 were the result of vehicle accidents or linked to hazardous transport, the United Nations agency says.</p>.<p>In June, more than 50 migrants died after they were abandoned in a scorching hot tractor-trailer truck in San Antonio, Texas.</p>
<p>More than 150 Central American migrants were found abandoned in an overcrowded truck in southern Mexico, authorities said Thursday.</p>.<p>A routine inspection led to the discovery of 144 Guatemalans, six Nicaraguans and three Salvadorans in the vehicle left near a highway, the security secretary in the state of Chiapas said.</p>.<p>They received medical care and food before being handed over to the immigration authorities, the secretary said.</p>.<p>Officials in Chiapas, which borders Guatemala, have stepped up efforts to find US-bound migrants traveling in trucks -- one of the most dangerous methods used by people smugglers in Mexico.</p>.<p>In December, 56 US-bound migrants from Central America were killed and dozens injured when the truck they were traveling in overturned in southern Mexico.</p>.<p>Around 6,430 migrants have died or disappeared en route to the United States since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration.</p>.<p>Of those, 850 were the result of vehicle accidents or linked to hazardous transport, the United Nations agency says.</p>.<p>In June, more than 50 migrants died after they were abandoned in a scorching hot tractor-trailer truck in San Antonio, Texas.</p>