Two children are among three migrants reported dead in the English Channel by French authorities overnight, according to local media.
The deadly incident unfolded off the coast of Sangatte, in Pas-de-Calais, Tuesday night into Wednesday, the region’s prosecutor, Laurent Touvet, said at a news conference in Boulogne-sur-Mer on Wednesday.
Several rescue operations were launched overnight after a number of boats were spotted leaving Fort Mahon, Dieppe, and Hardelot, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
Some migrants on board requested assistance while others continued with their journey, resulting in 194 people being brought back to French shores in total, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
This included three people who were airlifted to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer but pronounced dead shortly after.
Two of the three who died were minors, French broadcaster BFMTV reported, quoting Mr Touvet.
Those who died were “likely crushed at the bottom of the boat”, which had a total of 38 people on board, he added, and were brought to shore by rescue services at around 5am.
“Smuggler networks bear the responsibility for these tragedies. The state is determined to combat them,” the prosecutor’s office said in a post on X.
They thanked police, firefighters, civil protection volunteers, and sea rescue services for scrambling to aid the boats.
It comes a day after a woman was confirmed dead as a result of “small boat activity” in the same waters.
Kent Police said the woman was airlifted to land just after 1pm on Tuesday but was pronounced dead shortly after.
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