French police say at least 27 migrants attempting to cross from France to Britain died when their boat sank in the English Channel. About 50 people were believed to be in the boat when it sank.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 34 people were believed to have been on the boat. Authorities found 31 bodies and two survivors, and one person appeared to still be missing. The nationalities of the travelers was not released.Four suspected traffickers were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of being linked to the sunken boat, Darmanin told reporters in the French port city of Calais. He said two of the suspects later appeared in court.
Jean-Marc Puissesseau, head of the ports of Calais and Boulogne, told The Associated Press that he spoke to one of the rescuers who brought some of the bodies to the Calais port.While deaths are occasionally reported on the crossing, such a large number of people losing their lives in one boat is rare.
More than 25,700 people have made the dangerous journey in small boats this year — three times the total for the whole of 2020. Darmanin insisted that France has worked hard to prevent deadly crossings, rescuing 7,800 people since January and stopping 671 who were trying to cross on Wednesday alone.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
At least 27 migrants reported dead after boat sinks off French coastAt least 27 migrants are dead after a boat capsized in the English Channel, off the coast of Calais, northern France on Wednesday, police sources told CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Read more »
Migrants channel crossing - Latest: Rescue operation underway as reports over 30 have died in boat sinkingAt least 24 migrants have died after their inflatable boat capsized in the English Channel, a French official has said.
Read more »
At least 27 dead after migrant boat sinks during bid to reach British shoresAt least two dozen people died trying to reach British shores after a dinghy carrying migrants capsized while crossing the Channel from France to the UK, local officials say.
Read more »
Dozens of migrants dead in deadliest English Channel disasterAt least 27 people have died after a boat with migrants trying to reach Britain sank in the English Channel off Calais, French officials say
Read more »
At least 24 drown crossing Channel to Britain, local mayor saysAt least 24 people died after their dinghy capsized on Wednesday while trying to cross the Channel from France to Britain, a local mayor told France 3 television.
Read more »