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Essex lorry deaths: Vietnamese families fear relatives among dead Essex lorry deaths: Vietnamese families fear relatives among dead
(32 minutes later)
At least three of the 39 people found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex may have been from Vietnam.At least three of the 39 people found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex may have been from Vietnam.
The BBC knows of three Vietnamese people whose relatives are worried they may have been in the trailer.The BBC knows of three Vietnamese people whose relatives are worried they may have been in the trailer.
Pham Tra My, 26, has not been heard from since she sent urgent messages on Tuesday saying she was suffocating. Pham Thi Tra My, 26, has not been heard from since she sent urgent messages on Tuesday saying she could not breathe.
Her brother says she had paid £30,000 to people smugglers and her last-known location had been Belgium. Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and the lorry driver remains in custody on suspicion of murder.
The last message they received from her was at 22:30 BST on Tuesday - two hours before the trailer arrived at the Purfleet terminal from a ferry that had left Zeebrugge in Belgium. Ms Tra My's brother, Pham Ngoc Tuan, says she had paid £30,000 to people smugglers and her last-known location had been Belgium.
The BBC also knows of two other families. They are relatives of a 26-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. The last message they received from her was at 22:30 BST on Tuesday - two hours before the trailer arrived at the Purfleet terminal from Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Her brother told the BBC: "My sister went missing on 23 October on the way from Vietnam to the UK and we couldn't contact her. We are concerned she may be in that trailer.
"We are asking the British police to help investigate so that my sister can be returned to the family."
Ms Tra My's family have shared the last text messages she sent to her parents.
They read: "I am really, really sorry, Mum and Dad, my trip to a foreign land has failed," she wrote. "I am dying, I can't breathe. I love you very much Mum and Dad. I am sorry, Mother."
Ms Tra My's brother told the BBC that her journey to the UK had begun on 3 October. She had instructed the family not to contact her because "the organisers" did not allow her to receive calls.
"She flew to China and stayed there for a couple days, then left for France. She called us when she reached each destination. The first attempt she made to cross the border to the UK was 19 October, but she got caught and turned back. I don't know for sure from which port," he said.
The BBC also knows of two other Vietnamese nationals who are missing - a 26-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. People smugglers are understood to have returned money to families of suspected victims.
The brother of the 19-year-old said his sister called him at 07:20 Belgian local time (06:20 BST) on Tuesday, saying she was getting into a container and was turning off her phone to avoid detection.The brother of the 19-year-old said his sister called him at 07:20 Belgian local time (06:20 BST) on Tuesday, saying she was getting into a container and was turning off her phone to avoid detection.
He has not heard from her since.He has not heard from her since.
He said a people smuggler returned money to the family overnight, and the family of the 26-year-old who she was travelling with also received money back.He said a people smuggler returned money to the family overnight, and the family of the 26-year-old who she was travelling with also received money back.
The victims of the trailer were 31 men and eight women and Essex Police initially said they were all believed to be Chinese.The victims of the trailer were 31 men and eight women and Essex Police initially said they were all believed to be Chinese.
They were found at an industrial estate in Grays at 01:40 BST on Wednesday.They were found at an industrial estate in Grays at 01:40 BST on Wednesday.
Detectives are still questioning the lorry driver on suspicion of murder.Detectives are still questioning the lorry driver on suspicion of murder.
Two other people were also earlier arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.Two other people were also earlier arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
The man and woman, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, were also held on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic.The man and woman, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, were also held on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic.
Police have been given extra time to question driver Mo Robinson, of County Armagh in Northern Ireland, who was arrested on Wednesday.Police have been given extra time to question driver Mo Robinson, of County Armagh in Northern Ireland, who was arrested on Wednesday.
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