Several dead after Channel crossing attempt – French officials
Several people died overnight while trying to cross the Channel from France to England, according to French officials.
“Several migrants lost their lives,” the Pas-de-Calais prefecture told the AFP news agency, without specifying the number of victims.
The incident comes more than a week after 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, died when a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the French coast.
The incident on 3 September was the deadliest loss of life in the Channel this year.
French maritime authorities said on Saturday that 200 people were rescued in a 24-hour period over Friday and Saturday.
The French coast guard and other first responders rescued people onboard four separate boats – one with 61, another with 55, and two others with 48 and 36 each.
Eighteen attempted crossings were monitored by authorities over the course of the day.
