At least three migrants died while attempting to cross the Channel to the United Kingdom off the coast of France. They were found unconscious in the water, and resuscitation efforts by emergency services were unsuccessful.
According to French authorities, approximately fifty people departed at 6:00 am from a beach in the village of Sangatte, northern France, in an undersized boat. Four migrants were taken to the hospital, and 41 others were given shelter in a local sports center, mainly suffering from hypothermia.
The search for additional victims continues. Migrant deaths are frequent during attempts to reach the UK via the Channel, often due to overcrowding on unseaworthy boats organized by smuggling networks.
British government data indicates that over 36,000 migrants have reached the UK this year in small boats via the Channel, compared to over 29,000 last year.
Source: NOS