Chinese citizens have expressed shock, anger and outrage over the deaths of39 people found in a lorry in the UK and believed to be Chinese nationals, in a case experts suspect is linked to human trafficking.

Chinese officials said on Friday that they were still working to confirm the identities of eight women and 31 men discovered in the back of a refrigerated trailer in Essex on Wednesday. The Chinese embassy in London said it was in close contact with the British police.

“This is a shocking tragedy. We express our deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” the embassy told Chinese media on Friday, adding that it expected the UK side would respect the dead and “conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation.”