At least 12 migrants including a pregnant woman and six children died after their small boat capsized in the English Channel, the French coastguard has confirmed.
Up to 65 people were rescued off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday as they attempted to reach the UK in treacherous waters.
The local prosecutor’s office said 10 females and two males were killed in the incident, according to the BBC.
French interior minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that dozens of people had been crammed in a boat less than seven metres long.
“I came to Boulogne-sur-Mer to meet and thank the emergency services, the police and the sailors who were able to save 51 people from drowning by intervening very quickly and very courageously,” he said.
Mr Darmanin described it as a “terrible shipwreck”, adding: “The provisional toll stands at 12 dead, two missing and several injured.
“All government services are mobilised to find the missing and take care of the victims.”
Mr Darmanin said most of the people on the boat were believed to have been from Eritrea, and most of the victims were women.
Speaking to reporters at Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the casualties are being treated, he said as many as 75 people can be put on boats ahead of a crossing attempt.
“These boats go down very, very quickly, this is the reason why a lot of people get killed on these journeys,” he said, according to a BBC News translation.
The bottom of the boat ripped open, said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first aid post was set up to treat victims.
The Home Secretary has described the deaths as “horrifying and deeply tragic”.
Yvette Cooper said: “What has happened off the coast at Le Portel is a horrifying and deeply tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the loved ones of all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been seriously injured.
“I am in touch with my counterpart in France, Gerald Darmanin, and am being kept updated on the situation.
“We pay tribute to the French coastguard and emergency services who undoubtedly saved many lives, but sadly could not save everyone. We will await the results of the French investigation into how this particular incident unfolded.
“The gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives have been cramming more and more people onto increasingly unseaworthy dinghies, and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather.
“They do not care about anything but the profits they make, and that is why – as well as mourning the awful loss of life – the work to dismantle these dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs and to strengthen border security is so vital and must proceed apace.”
Sea temperatures off northern France were around 20C (about 68F).
Tackling illegal immigration has been a priority for both the British and French governments.
More than 2,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats over the past seven days, according to UK government figures.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work closer together to dismantle migrant smuggling routes.
The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, making the crossing on small boats dangerous. In August, two people were found dead after a boat carrying migrants trying to cross the Channel ran into difficulties.
The International Organisation for Migration, which records Channel crossing deaths as part of its Missing Migrant Project, estimates 226 people including 35 children are missing or have died after attempting the crossing as of January this year.
According to the French coastguard, there have been at least 19 deaths in 2024 prior to Tuesday’s incident, including nine since the start of July.
Last year, 12 migrants are thought to have died or were recorded as missing.
Reacting to the deaths in the Channel on Tuesday, Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon said: “The number of deaths in the Channel this year has been shockingly high.
“It is a devastating trend that shows the urgent need for a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to reduce dangerous Channel crossings.
“Enforcement alone is not the solution. Heightened security and policing measures on the French coast have led to increasingly perilous crossings, launching from more dangerous locations and in flimsy, overcrowded vessels.
“In addition to taking action against the criminal gangs themselves, the Government must develop a plan to improve and expand safe routes for those seeking safety.”
James Cleverly said the deaths in the Channel were “tragic” and cannot continue.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the shadow home secretary said: “This is tragic and it cannot continue.
“It is not enough to talk about ‘smashing the gangs’ when the real-life consequences are so serious.
“Labour must re-establish the deterrent that the NCA said we need to stop vulnerable people being exploited and secure our border.”
