68 people found in shipping container at UK port

LONDON: British emergency services said Friday they had found 68 people locked in a container at a port in southeast England, including two pregnant women.

Seven people, including the women, were taken to hospital but none are in a serious condition, according to a statement from the East of England Ambulance Service.

Emergency services were called to Harwich International Port, which is mainly used by ferries to the Netherlands, shortly after 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Thursday evening.

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"A total of 68 people were assessed at the scene with seven being taken to Colchester General Hospital for further assessments and care," the ambulance service said.

"The patients who were taken to hospital were suffering from abdominal and chest pains and were feeling faint. None are in a life-threatening or serious condition.

"The remaining 61 were released to the UK Border Agency officials."

The ambulance service spokesman said the container was thought to have come from the Netherlands, and the people inside comprised of a range of different nationalities.

Thousands of migrants enter Britain illegally each year on lorries crossing from the French port of Calais to Dover on the southern English coast, but rarely in shipping containers.