All 39 were pronounced dead at the scene.
A man from Northern Ireland has been arrested after the bodies of 39 people were discovered in a container in Essex.
Police were called to the Waterglade Industrial Park in the early hours of this morning where they found the remains inside the container.
All 39 were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
"This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives," said
chief superintendent Andrew Mariner.
"We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process."
He said that it is believed that the container was from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead via a lorry on Saturday October 19.
38 adults and one teenager were inside.
Mariner added that the driver of the container remains in police custody.
