Migrants drown in English Channel as hundreds attempt to cross to UK

The migrant ship got into trouble about eleven kilometers from the French port city of Calais.

French maritime authorities called in British rescue boats from Dover and Walmer to assist in the operation.

More than 50 people were rescued and transferred to the French support ship Mink.

Two of the rescued people were found to be unresponsive. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

The search and rescue operation has now been halted.

As the ship returned to port, the Dover lifeboat picked up another 70 migrants from another small boat that entered British waters.

GB News can confirm that hundreds of other migrants made the illegal crossing into British waters today, in around six small boats.

Maritime sources believe around 500 migrants attempted the crossing on Sunday, with around 400 reaching British waters.

Before today’s arrivals, official figures showed that 17,638 migrants had reached the UK so far this year, significantly more than the number of migrants who arrived at this point last year.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which undermine border security and put lives at risk.

“The new government is taking steps to improve our border security. We are establishing a new Border Security Command, bringing together our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We are being given new counter-terrorism powers and hundreds of staff based in the UK and abroad. We are going to tackle criminal smuggling gangs that are making millions in profits.”