Six individuals lost their lives as a migrant boat en route to Britain sank in the English Channel on Saturday morning, according to French maritime officials. The search continues for those still unaccounted for. A spokesperson for the French coastal authority, Premar, indicated that between five and ten passengers remain missing, while 55 have been successfully rescued.
The rescue operation, centered around Sangatte in northern France, involved four French ships, a helicopter, and two British vessels.
Survivors were also assisted by the British vessels.
Initially, authorities reported the death of one Afghan-origin man, with five others in critical condition. A maritime surveillance plane has been deployed to the area.
Rescued individuals were transported to the French port of Calais, where emergency services were on hand.
Official figures disclosed on Friday revealed that over 100,000 migrants have traversed the Channel via small boats from France to southeast England since 2018.
In March, London pledged to provide Paris with significant funding annually to bolster patrols and deter such crossings.
The perilous nature of this route, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, has led to numerous capsizings and migrant drownings over the past decade.
Last year alone, five migrants died at sea, and four went missing while attempting to reach Britain from France. In November 2021, a tragic boat capsize in the Channel claimed the lives of 27 migrants.