The Documentary Podcast Europe’s migrant crisis: the truck that shocked the world
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Aug 19, 2025 In the summer of 2015, a harrowing migrant journey ended tragically when 71 people suffocated in a refrigerated truck. Hear personal accounts from family members who lost loved ones and insights from smugglers now serving life sentences. The emotional toll on those left behind paints a poignant picture of grief. Young Yazidis share their dreams of a brighter future amidst their perilous escape from violence. The episode exposes systemic failures and tough truths about human trafficking, leaving listeners to ponder how such tragedies can be prevented.
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Family Fleeing ISIS Lost On Route
- Hazem sent his two children and brother to Europe after ISIS attacked Yazidis and their hometown was overrun.
- He believed Europe offered safety and opportunity, but they never reached their destination.
The Overloaded Refrigerated Truck
- Metodi and his gang packed 71 migrants into the back of a refrigerated truck under pressure to collect people from a forest.
- The truck was sealed for frozen meat and never had the planned ventilation holes drilled.
Smugglers Knew Ventilation Was Needed
- The smugglers knew holes should have been drilled to give air but skipped it because the pickup was last minute and pressured.
- Metodi admits they were aware no holes had been made before the journey.