At least five migrants, including a seven-year-old girl, have died while trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat, French authorities have said.
The incident killed three men and a woman aboard a packed small boat off the northern French coast of Vimereux, which was carrying 112 people, local official Jacques Billant said.
The French coast guard said an unsuccessful attempt had been made to cross the Channel and that there were several “lifeless bodies”.
Latest Politics: There will be ‘inevitable’ challenges to Rwanda flights
Four people were taken to hospital, but none were in life-threatening condition, Mr Bilant told reporters, confirming that a young girl was among the five deaths.
He said the accident occurred as the ship was leaving and local emergency services rescued 47 people, while more than 50 decided to continue their journey.
This comes hours after the UK government’s controversial statement rwanda Bill – intended to prevent migrants crossing the Channel in small boats – was passed,
Earlier, French newspaper La Voix du Nord said about a hundred migrants were rescued by a French navy tugboat and taken to Boulogne. This has not been confirmed by the authorities.
Sandrine, a charity worker who witnessed the incident, told Sky News that she saw two boats in difficulty.
He said that a girl was also among those who died.
Sandrine, who witnessed this incident, says that a girl is also among those who died.
“I saw them bringing the body and father came into my arms,” he said.
“I said to myself: ‘This can’t be possible. She has a child.’
“They tried to revive her but she was dead. The helicopters arrived and then there were four other bodies.”
“The father saw his daughter die in front of him.”
Earlier, she said she had seen a large group of people at the station, and “knew there would be attempts to cross”.
Writing on X, UK Home Secretary James Cleverley said: “These tragedies have to stop. I will not accept a status quo that causes so many lives to be lost.”
He said ministers were “doing everything possible to stamp out this trade”.
Conservative MP Robert Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister in December over the government’s Rwanda plan, urged the EU to give member states legal cover “to seize these maritime boats”, which he said “Another unbearable tragedy,” it said.
A migrant boat in the channel on Tuesday. It is not known whether it was involved in the fatal incident.
The suspected migrants arrived in Dover on a British Border Force ship on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Earlier, Sky News had filmed a suspected migrant boat attempting to cross the Channel, but it is not known if it was involved in the fatal incident.
Pictures have been published showing people, believed to be migrants, arriving on board a British Border Force ship at the port of Dover.
Keep up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Suspected migrant boats leaving France
Sky’s Europe correspondent Adam Parsons, reporting from the northern French coast, said at least four vessels were involved in the rescue operation off the coast of Vimereux, as well as helicopters.
Sea conditions were “excellent”, he said [and]“If you were trying to cross the Channel in a small boat, this is the day you would do it, so if you can’t cross it on a day like that, it shows how dangerous it is. “
He said that it is believed that the boat hit the sand at around 5 in the morning, due to which people entered the water.
‘Lifeless body’ in the channel
The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and its currents are strong, making it extremely dangerous to cross on small boats.
Smugglers usually overload ramshackle boats, leaving them barely able to float and at risk of being hit by waves as they try to reach Britain.
Read more:
Migrants trying to cross the Channel explain why they will not be deterred by Rwanda bill
Asylum seekers warn others not to seek asylum in Britain
rwanda bill, which Rishi Sunak Said to be intended to curb illegal trade, after hours of wrangling the House of Lords decided they would no longer oppose it, after which it would finally become law. The measure was finally approved after midnight.
Mr Sunak has pledged First flights to begin “in 10 to 12 weeks”,
Human rights groups have described this law as inhumane and cruel.