Tragedy Strikes as Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Northern France

A migrant boat carrying nearly seventy people capsized near Cap Gris-Nez, northern France, killing at least 12. Emergency responders rescued 65 individuals, with some in serious condition. The incident underscores the ongoing crisis of dangerous English Channel crossings by migrants seeking asylum in the UK.

A tragic incident unfolded off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez, northern France, on Tuesday as a migrant boat capsized, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, according to French authorities. The vessel was carrying close to seventy passengers, as confirmed by Frederic Cuvillier, the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The exact number of people on board remains unclear.

Emergency personnel were able to rescue 65 lives, with several individuals requiring immediate medical attention due to their serious conditions, as reported by the maritime prefecture. The search and rescue operation involved two fishing boats, three helicopters, and two additional rescue boats.

Small boats are often used to ferry large groups of migrants on perilous journeys in hopes of seeking asylum in the United Kingdom. Such dangerous crossings of the English Channel have notably increased in recent years, becoming a significant political issue for both the new Labour government and the outgoing Conservative government, whose harsh rhetoric against asylum seekers has been criticized by migrant rights organizations, according to Al Jazeera.

This recent tragedy is the latest in a series of disasters in the Channel. Last August, six people died when another migrant boat capsized in similar circumstances.

(With inputs from agencies.)