A tragic search and rescue operation is underway in the English Channel after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Le Portel, northern France. At least 12 people have been confirmed dead, with two others still missing, according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
The French coast guard reported that 65 people were on board the vessel, which was attempting to reach the UK, but only 53 survived. This makes it the deadliest incident in the Channel this year, raising the total number of migrant deaths in 2024 to nearly 40.
Naval officer Etienne Baggio confirmed to AFP that search operations are ongoing. The victims are being transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France as rescue efforts continue.
Prior to this disaster, 30 people had already lost their lives attempting the dangerous Channel crossing this year, according to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This surpasses previous figures for any year since 2021, when 45 deaths were recorded.
The incident highlights the ongoing peril faced by migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in unsafe vessels, as authorities on both sides work to prevent further tragedies.
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