At least 12 people died when a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez in northern France on Tuesday (3), according to French authorities.
Nearly 70 people were on board the ship, according to Boulogne-sur-Mer Mayor Frédéric Cuvillier. The exact number is unclear.
Emergency crews rescued 65 people, the maritime prefecture said. Several of them were in critical condition and required urgent medical care.
Three helicopters, two fishing boats and two boats were mobilized in the search and rescue operation.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin is due to visit the site on Tuesday afternoon.
Dangerous small boat crossings across the English Channel have increased in recent years, with dinghies and other small craft often used to take large groups of people on the perilous journey in the hope of seeking asylum in the UK.
The issue has become a major political hurdle for both the previous Conservative government, which was criticized by immigrant rights groups for its hardline rhetoric against asylum seekers, and the new Labour administration.
Tuesday’s incident is the latest in a series of tragedies that have occurred in the Canal. Last August, six people died when a boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized.
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This content was originally published in At least 12 dead after boat with migrants sinks in the English Channel on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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