12 migrants dead after boat capsizes in Channel, search for missing two continues

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, FRANCE:

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.

Underscoring the seriousness of the situation, Darmanin said he would travel to the site near the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer later in the afternoon.

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.

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the deaths of the migrants a “terrible and deeply tragic incident” and said work to “dismantle dangerous and criminal smuggling gangs and strengthen border security … is vital and must continue apace”.

The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes and currents are strong, making it dangerous to cross with small boats. In August, two people were found dead after a boat carrying migrants trying to cross the Channel got into trouble.

“The question for all political leaders, on both sides of the Channel, must be how many lives will be lost before an end is put to these avoidable tragedies?” said Steve Smith, CEO of the NGO Care4Calais.

“Their continued obsession and investment in security measures does not lead to a reduction in the number of border crossings, but only forces people to take ever greater risks.”