At least 12 people have died and dozens have been rescued after a boat capsized while attempting to cross the English Channel, according to authorities. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin reported that 12 individuals have been confirmed dead, with rescue operations ongoing to locate two missing persons.
Darmanin plans to visit the site near Boulogne-sur-Mer later. Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of Le Portel near Boulogne-sur-Mer, stated that the boat’s hull had ripped open. Etienne Baggio, a spokesperson for the French maritime prefecture, indicated that 65 people have been rescued from the water. This incident is considered the deadliest migrant boat tragedy in the English Channel this year. Many aboard the vessel lacked life vests. The cause of the boat’s rupture and its type are still unknown; some crossings involve inflatable dinghies.
The boat encountered trouble off Gris-Nez point, situated between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais. Sea temperatures in the area were around 20°C (68°F). UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the deaths as “horrifying and deeply tragic,” condemning the “gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives” for prioritizing profit over human safety.
According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 30 refugees and migrants have died or disappeared while trying to reach the UK this year. The UK Home Office reported that over 2,100 individuals attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats in the past week, including those found in the channel or upon arrival.
