In a major tragedy at least 59 Mon ethnic, Burmese migrants from Mon State, Burma including children died due to suffocation in a container of a ten-wheeler truck while illegally entering southern Thailand last night.

According to a Mon community leader working with Thai authorities, 121 were adults and the rest children. Thai newspaper, the Bangkok Post reported 54 were found dead and 21 were brought to hospital while 46 survivors were arrested.

A majority of migrants were from Lamaing sub-town and Morkanin village Ye township, Mon State.

"At least five children and more than 30 women died," he estimated. The migrants were suffocated because the air-conditioner was not working.

The incident occurred on the way from Ranong to Phuket at around 1 a.m. on Thursday. The migrants were in search of jobs in the Phuket area.

The authorities claimed that the migrants were brought from Burma by three Mon touts, Mi Lae, from Lamaing sub-town, Mi Thami, and Nywe Tun.

"Apart from the three traffickers, a Thai tout was also involved and the authorities are searching for them," the Mon community leader said.

"The truck driver escaped immediately after he parked the truck for he knew that some migrants had died inside," he said.

A trafficker said the four traffickers had brought migrants more than ten times to Phuket.

Currently Thai immigration officials and policemen are arranging for deportation of the survivors to Kaw-Thaung in Burma.