The French government says no fewer than 12 migrants died off the northern French coast on Tuesday trying to cross the Channel to England, saying a major rescue operation was underway.
The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, while announcing the death toll on X, also said that two migrants were still missing.
According to him, several others were wounded after their boat carrying dozens ran into trouble off Wimereux, a town some five kilometres (three miles) from Boulogne-sur-Mer on the French coast.
Darmanin added that he was travelling to the area of the disaster to meet with officials, adding that all government services were mobilised to find the missing people and treat the injured.
French maritime authorities said that emergency services were out in force and supplying urgent medical assistance.
Naval officer Etienne Baggio said French navy helicopters, fishing boats, and military vessels were being mobilised for the operation, which is still ongoing.
The French and British governments have for years sought to stop the flow of migrants, who pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron had earlier this summer pledged to strengthen “cooperation” in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.
12 migrants die attempting to cross channel to UK
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