Corpses

TV1Samoa reported the numbers were confirmed by Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, who said the problem was the country did not have a pathologist or medical examiner.

Samoa usually relied on a pathologists from overseas but had not been able to get one into the country during to the Covid pandemic.

Fuiavailili said four bodies are at the Savaii mortuary while 19 are at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital on Upolu.

It is still not clear when a pathologist would be available.

Authorities said on Monday they were trying to relocate the container, which was rented after mortuaries in the city of Guadalajara became full.

"We have a lot of children in this neighbourhood... it could make us all sick," resident José Luis Tovar said.

Laws in Mexico prevent the cremation of bodies linked to violent crime.

Local authorities said they were looking for a longer-term solution to store the bodies following a recent wave of violence.