At least 13 dead after migrant boat capsizes in English Channel

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AFTER A BOAT CARRYING AROUND 70 MIGRANTS CAPSIZED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

COASTGUARDS HAVE LAUNCHED A MASSIVE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION AND ARE CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR POSSIBLE SURVIVORS – INVOLVING AIR AND SEA RESOURCES.

THE BOAT LEFT FRANCE AND WAS HEADING TO BRITAIN, ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER.

THE BOAT GOT INTO TROUBLE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL – WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON BOARD LIKELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE BOAT’S STRUCTURAL FAILURE, DESCRIBED AS ‘RIPPING OPEN’.

AUTHORITIES SAY ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE WATERS OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL – AND ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

THE OVERCROWDING OF VESSELS, A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN SUCH CROSSINGS, POSES SEVERE RISKS TO MIGRANTS.

OFFICIALS WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT SAY MORE THAN 2,000 MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN BRITAIN IN THE LAST WEEK – USUALLY ON SMALL BOATS.

ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION, AT LEAST 30 MIGRANTS HAVE DIED OR GONE MISSING WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL THIS YEAR.

LAST WEEK, BOTH FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER PLEDGED TO WORK TOGETHER TO END MIGRANT SMUGGLING ROUTES BETWEEN FRANCE AND BRITAIN.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR..