Eight migrants die in Channel crossing attempt: French authorities

Eight migrants died early Sunday when their overcrowded vessel capsized while trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French authorities said, less than two weeks after the deadliest such disaster this year.

The French and British governments have sought for years to stop the flow of migrants, who pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats.

A police source told French news agency AFP the accident occurred shortly after the boat embarked on Saturday.

Regional police chief Jacques Billant told a news conference on Sunday morning that 59 people had been aboard the vessel when it set off from Wimereux.

The eight victims were adult men from Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt and Iran.

Six people were transported to hospitals in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais, including a 10-month-old infant with hypothermia, Billant said.

Maritime authorities said Saturday that numerous attempts by migrants to make the perilous crossing in small boats have been attempted in recent days, with 200 people rescued in 24 hours over Friday and Saturday alone.

More cooperation needed

46 people have died while attempting to cross the Channel since the beginning of the year.

At least 12 migrants, mostly from Eritrea, died off the northern French coast when their boat carrying dozens of people capsized this month.

More than 22,000 migrants have arrived in England by crossing the Channel since the beginning of this year, according to British officials.

(with AFP)

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