Burmese migrants die in seafood container

AT LEAST 54 Burmese migrants suffocated in a cold storage container as they were being smuggled into Thailand to look for work, the deadliest incident in a wave of recent tragedies as people flee economic collapse in the military-ruled state.

A total of 121 people had crammed in a container just six metres long and 2.2 metres wide, said Colonel Kraithong Chanthongbai, police commander in the border province of Ranong where the bodies were found.

Thai police said 21 people were admitted to hospital suffering dehydration and lack of oxygen. They appeared to be recovering after receiving intravenous fluids.

The airtight container was normally used to carry frozen seafood.

"They were kept inside the sealed truck for hours without air because the air-conditioning system failed. Many of them pounded the sides of the truck for help," Sergeant Phuvanai Wattanasamai said.

Colonel Kraithong said 37 of the dead were women and police had detained 46 survivors for illegal entry. The migrants were supposed to pay a Thai smuggling ring 5000 baht ($A170) each to take them from the border to the nearby resort island of Phuket. Once there, they hoped to find work as day labourers.