At least 12 migrants dead after ship capsizes in Channel

At least 12 migrants died on Tuesday after their boat capsized en route across the Channel to Britain, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said, adding that rescue operations were underway to find two missing people.

Tackling illegal immigration is a priority for both the British and French governments. More than 2,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats in the past seven days, according to British government figures.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work more closely together to dismantle migrant smuggling routes.

A local French official told reporters that the victims were mainly from Africa, with many from Eritrea. Darmanin added that children were also among the victims.

“Women and men are dying because of these traffickers, who are real criminals,” Darmanin told reporters.