39 people were found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex on Wednesday (Oct. 23), according to The Guardian.

31 men, eight women

The 31 men and eight women were confirmed to be Chinese nationals.

According to various media reports, it is suspected that the people froze to death in the container, which was refrigerated. Temperatures were believed to be as low as -25°C.

The exact cause of death has yet to be revealed by the police, and an inquiry into the deaths has been opened.

The Chinese embassy in London is currently in "close contact with the British police to seek clarification and confirmation of the reports".

Journey of the lorry

The lorry was travelling from a port at Zeebrugge, Belgium.

The container had arrived in Zeebrugge on Tuesday (Oct. 22) and left on the same day, arriving at Purfleet on Wednesday morning (Oct. 23).

The bodies were discovered on Oct. 23.

The Guardian reported that it is unclear when the victims were placed in the container.

The chief executive of Zeebrugge port said that it is unlikely that they were loaded into the container at the Belgium port because the refrigerated container in the port zone is "completely sealed".

There are also checks on the seal, and the driver is also "checked by cameras".

Lorry driver arrested

The 25-year-old lorry driver, Mo Robinson, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

He is believed to have driven the truck from Northern Ireland before picking up the container at Essex.

The police have been granted an addition 24 hours to question Robinson, BBC reported on Oct. 25.

Human smuggling tragedies in the UK

This is the worst human smuggling tragedy to take place in the UK in close to 20 years, The Guardian reported.

In 2000, 58 Chinese nationals were discovered in a container in Dover, UK.

They reportedly spent over 18 hours trapped in the container while coming from Belgium.

Most of them suffocated to death, post-mortem examinations confirmed. There were only two survivors.

Since 2016, British authorities have been issuing warnings of the rising threat of human smuggling via Belgium.

Top photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images