At least 12 dead following capsizing of migrant boat in the English Channel

The French Coast Guard announced that at least 12 people lost their lives due to the capsizing of a migrant boat in the English Channel, with around 50 other passengers rescued. The French Interior Minister stated that this incident occurred around 8 AM on Tuesday, September 4. Gerald Darmanin added that search and rescue operations for the boat's passengers are still ongoing, and initial investigations indicate that two people are missing and several others are injured. Due to the importance of this incident, he will personally travel to the port city of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northwest France. According to an unnamed source cited by AFP, the death toll is reported to be 13. The boat sank while traveling from the French shores towards Britain in French territorial waters near Boulogne-sur-Mer. International news agencies and British media report that this is the deadliest incident involving migrants in the Channel this year. Including the victims of this incident, the number of migrants and asylum seekers who have lost their lives in this route since the beginning of 2024 has reached around 40. Combating illegal migration through the Channel is a priority for both France and Britain, but statistics show that the efforts of both countries have not been very successful so far. According to UK government statistics, more than two thousand migrants have reached Britain via this route in just the past week. About a week ago, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized in their meeting that the two countries would increase cooperation to block the migration route in the Channel. The English Channel is one of the busiest international shipping routes, and the waters in the area have strong waves. The movement of small, dilapidated boats used by migrants is very dangerous in this region.