Several dead after boat capsizes in English Channel
At least 27 people have died after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel on Wednesday, French authorities said.
The boat, which was carrying around 50 people, overturned off the coast of Calais in northern France at around 6am local time. Rescuers were able to save 16 people, but 27 bodies have been recovered so far.
The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said the tragedy was "a reminder of the dangers of illegal crossings".
He said the boat was "not suitable for sea crossings" and that the people on board had been "packed together like merchandise".
The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said. "This is a terrible tragedy and we must do everything we can to prevent it from happening again."
The incident is the deadliest on record in the English Channel since 2018, when 13 people died in a similar tragedy.
It comes as the number of people attempting to cross the Channel in small boats has reached record levels this year.
More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel so far in 2023, compared to just over 28,000 in the whole of last year.
The UK government has been criticized for its handling of the issue, with some accusing it of failing to do enough to prevent people from making dangerous crossings.
The government has said it is committed to tackling the issue and has introduced a number of measures to deter people from crossing the Channel, including increasing the number of patrols in the area and working with the French authorities to crack down on people smugglers.
However, campaigners say more needs to be done to provide safe and legal routes for people to seek asylum in the UK.
Komentar