Ankara: Police in northern Mexico have uncovered 381 embalmed bodies at a private crematorium in Ciudad Juarez, many of which had been improperly stored for up to two years, according to press reports Monday. Instead of being cremated, the corpses were piled indiscriminately across various rooms in the facility, Eloy Garcia, a spokesperson for the Chihuahua state prosecutor's office, told The Guardian.

According to Anadolu Agency, authorities initially responded to reports of 60 bodies at the site, but the number rose sharply as the investigation continued. Garcia blamed the incident on 'carelessness and irresponsibility' by the crematorium's operators. 'Preliminarily, we have 381 bodies that were deposited irregularly in the crematorium, which were not cremated,' Garcia said. 'Instead of ashes, relatives were given "other material".'

Garcia emphasized that businesses must adhere to their daily cremation capacities to prevent such incidents. 'You can't take in more than you can process,' he said, highlighting the fundamental operational oversight by the crematorium's management.

One of the crematorium's administrators has surrendered to police, though authorities have yet to determine whether any of the deceased were victims of criminal violence. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges Mexico faces with its overburdened forensic systems, which are exacerbated by high homicide rates, staff shortages, and budget constraints.