Croatian police have reported that four migrants were found dead near the border with Slovenia after being transported in what authorities described as “inhumane conditions” inside a truck.

The incident occurred near the village of Donje Prilisce, about 70 kilometres southwest of the capital, Zagreb. Police said two other migrants were taken to hospital in serious condition, while 13 additional people were discovered in the area and moved to a detention centre.

According to authorities, the group was allegedly dropped off at the border by an unidentified smuggler who fled the scene. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.

Croatia, a European Union member state, remains a key transit route along the Balkan migration corridor used by irregular migrants attempting to reach Western Europe. The route is frequently associated with dangerous journeys facilitated by smugglers and difficult terrain.

Police noted that similar incidents have been recorded in recent months, including a case earlier this year in which a Chinese migrant died after a boat capsized while crossing a river from Bosnia into Croatia. In another case last month, 30 migrants were rescued from a marsh along the same border region.

Data from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, shows that more than 12,500 people used the Balkan route in 2025.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has previously reported that more than 400 migrants have died or gone missing along the route since 2014, highlighting the continued risks faced by people undertaking irregular migration journeys across Europe.