<p>Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday.</p>

<p>Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning.</p>

<p>A French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, picked up 14 people on board, including the deceased during a rescue mission between 8:00 and 9:00 am, officials said.</p>

<p>"Yet again, several migrants lost their lives trying to reach Britain by crossing the Channel," the Pas-de-Calais prefecture in northern France said.</p>

<p>"A child was trampled to death," France's hard-line interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said on X, adding that several other people had died in the "appalling drama".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/search-resumes-for-48-missing-after-migrants-boat-capsizes-near-canary-islands-763011"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Search resumes for 48 missing after migrants boat capsizes near Spain's Canary Islands</strong></a></p>

<p>"The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these gangs who enrich themselves by organising these deadly crossings," Retailleau added.</p>

<p>French officials said the accident was not a shipwreck and the dead child had been found in the boat, not in the water.</p>

<p>Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of the coastal town of Le Portel in northern France, said the child was around four years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The injured person was airlifted to hospital in Boulogne, northern France.</p>

<p>The other passengers continued their journey.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Spain: 9 Migrants Dead, 48 Missing After Boat Capsizes Near Canary Islands | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>French authorities seek to stop people taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'Misery and despair'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office confirmed the dead child had been "very young" but did not immediately release other details.</p>

<p>Barbarin said the 14 passengers rescued had disembarked at the town's commercial port.</p>

<p>Channel crossings to Britain by undocumented asylum seekers have ballooned since 2018 despite repeated warnings about the perilous journey.</p>

<p>The Channel has heavy maritime traffic, icy waters, and strong currents.</p>

<p>The French and British governments have sought to stop the flow of undocumented migrants, who may pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats.</p>

<p>France's new right-wing prime minister, Michel Barnier, said on Tuesday the country needed a stricter immigration policy.</p>

<p>He vowed to be "ruthless" with people traffickers, who he said "exploit misery and despair" that pushed undocumented asylum seekers to risk trying to cross the Channel and the Mediterranean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest tragedy comes after eight migrants died in mid-September when their overcrowded vessel capsized while trying to cross the Channel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In early September at least 12 people including six minors, mostly from Eritrea, died off the northern French coast when their loaded boat capsized.</p>

<p>The number of migrants arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats has topped 25,000 since the start of the year.</p>

<p>Stopping the small boat arrivals on England's southern coast was a key issue in Britain's general election in July.</p>

<p>British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper has said the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers in five years.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday. Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning.

Several people died, including a young child, when an overcrowded boat attempted to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said on Saturday. Another would-be asylum seeker was injured and airlifted to hospital after the dinghy issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning. A French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, picked up 14 people on board, including the deceased during a rescue mission between 8:00 and 9:00 am, officials said. "Yet again, several migrants lost their lives trying to reach Britain by crossing the Channel," the Pas-de-Calais prefecture in northern France said. "A child was trampled to death," France's hard-line interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said on X, adding that several other people had died in the "appalling drama". Also read: Search resumes for 48 missing after migrants boat capsizes near Spain's Canary Islands "The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our government will intensify the fight against these gangs who enrich themselves by organising these deadly crossings," Retailleau added. French officials said the accident was not a shipwreck and the dead child had been found in the boat, not in the water. Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of the coastal town of Le Portel in northern France, said the child was around four years old. The injured person was airlifted to hospital in Boulogne, northern France. The other passengers continued their journey. Watch | Spain: 9 Migrants Dead, 48 Missing After Boat Capsizes Near Canary Islands | World News | WION × French authorities seek to stop people taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns. 'Misery and despair' The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office confirmed the dead child had been "very young" but did not immediately release other details. Barbarin said the 14 passengers rescued had disembarked at the town's commercial port. Channel crossings to Britain by undocumented asylum seekers have ballooned since 2018 despite repeated warnings about the perilous journey. The Channel has heavy maritime traffic, icy waters, and strong currents. The French and British governments have sought to stop the flow of undocumented migrants, who may pay smugglers thousands of euros per head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats. France's new right-wing prime minister, Michel Barnier, said on Tuesday the country needed a stricter immigration policy. He vowed to be "ruthless" with people traffickers, who he said "exploit misery and despair" that pushed undocumented asylum seekers to risk trying to cross the Channel and the Mediterranean. The latest tragedy comes after eight migrants died in mid-September when their overcrowded vessel capsized while trying to cross the Channel. In early September at least 12 people including six minors, mostly from Eritrea, died off the northern French coast when their loaded boat capsized. The number of migrants arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats has topped 25,000 since the start of the year. Stopping the small boat arrivals on England's southern coast was a key issue in Britain's general election in July. British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper has said the government aims over the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of failed asylum seekers in five years. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Child 'trampled to death' on asylum seekers' Channel crossing boat, says French minister

<p>Five French security personnel have been handed a preliminary charge over their failure to respond to distress calls made by migrants in 2021, which led to the killing of at least 27 people. The migrants, including six women and one young girl, were travelling on a flimsy boat in the treacherous English Channel. Four dead bodies are yet to be discovered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>French police had earlier filed preliminary charges against 10 people on account of manslaughter and assisting the illegal entry of migrants. Now, preliminary charges against the five military personnel will allow magistrates more time to investigate the case. A total of three&nbsp;magistrates are investigating the case. Currently, the five men are not kept in detention, as France’s strict military code doesn’t permit the authorities to do so.</p>

<h2><strong>What are the allegations against French personnel?</strong></h2>

<p>As per several media reports and judicial files prepared by the investigators, the French maritime rescue personnel ignored a staggering 15 distress calls made by the migrants and instead turned over the responsibility to British authorities. The migrants had also shared their live location on WhatsApp with the French authorities and had alerted them that their boat was sinking and the engine broke down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The on-duty personnel failed to send any assistance to the drifting boat. According to a report by Radio France, the rescue team was not aware about the gravity of the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Meteor lights up the sky over English Channel&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>It was only after 10 hours that the rescue team intervened after fishermen in the area sounded the alarm.</p>

<p>This was the deadliest migration accident on the English Channel in 2021. The incident sent tensions between France and Britain soaring, with both nations lambasting each other for failing to protect the rights of migrants embarking on the deadly path in search of better economic opportunities.</p>

<h2><strong>Indictment welcomed by migrants' organisation</strong></h2>

<p>The news of the indictment of five French personnel was welcomed by Utopia 56, an organisation for migrants. In a statement, the organisation said, “We are naturally pleased that the enquiry is advancing. But beyond the responsibility of individuals to respond to their hierarchy, we want to shed light on the responsibility of both the French and British authorities in this tragedy."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-are-indian-students-crossing-the-english-channel-to-enter-uk-on-small-boats-558460"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;Why are Indian students crossing the English Channel on small boats?</strong></a></p>

<p>Despite the high fatality rate, migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Albania continue to risk their lives on the treacherous stretch of the English Channel, with more than 45,000 asylum seekers having crossed the channel in 2022 alone, a record.&nbsp;</p>

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Five French security personnel have been handed a preliminary charge over their failure to respond to distress calls made by migrants in 2021, which led to the killing of at least 27 people.

Five French security personnel have been handed a preliminary charge over their failure to respond to distress calls made by migrants in 2021, which led to the killing of at least 27 people. The migrants, including six women and one young girl, were travelling on a flimsy boat in the treacherous English Channel. Four dead bodies are yet to be discovered. French police had earlier filed preliminary charges against 10 people on account of manslaughter and assisting the illegal entry of migrants. Now, preliminary charges against the five military personnel will allow magistrates more time to investigate the case. A total of three magistrates are investigating the case. Currently, the five men are not kept in detention, as France’s strict military code doesn’t permit the authorities to do so. What are the allegations against French personnel? As per several media reports and judicial files prepared by the investigators, the French maritime rescue personnel ignored a staggering 15 distress calls made by the migrants and instead turned over the responsibility to British authorities. The migrants had also shared their live location on WhatsApp with the French authorities and had alerted them that their boat was sinking and the engine broke down. The on-duty personnel failed to send any assistance to the drifting boat. According to a report by Radio France, the rescue team was not aware about the gravity of the situation. Watch: Meteor lights up the sky over English Channel × It was only after 10 hours that the rescue team intervened after fishermen in the area sounded the alarm. This was the deadliest migration accident on the English Channel in 2021. The incident sent tensions between France and Britain soaring, with both nations lambasting each other for failing to protect the rights of migrants embarking on the deadly path in search of better economic opportunities. Indictment welcomed by migrants' organisation The news of the indictment of five French personnel was welcomed by Utopia 56, an organisation for migrants. In a statement, the organisation said, “We are naturally pleased that the enquiry is advancing. But beyond the responsibility of individuals to respond to their hierarchy, we want to shed light on the responsibility of both the French and British authorities in this tragedy." Also Read | Why are Indian students crossing the English Channel on small boats? Despite the high fatality rate, migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Albania continue to risk their lives on the treacherous stretch of the English Channel, with more than 45,000 asylum seekers having crossed the channel in 2022 alone, a record. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

France indicts five soldiers for failing to rescue 27 migrants killed in 2021 English Channel tragedy

<p>A small boat carrying around 40 migrants sunk off the southeastern coast of England in freezing temperatures, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Subsequently, the British government confirmed the incident and said that four people were killed.&nbsp;British radio station LBC has earlier said that 43 people had been rescued and a small number had died.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to media reports, lifeboats, helicopters and rescue teams are working&nbsp;with the French and British navies to respond to the event. A government spokesperson, in a statement, said that "At 3:05 (GMT) today, authorities were alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress."</p>

<p>It added, "After a coordinated search and rescue operation led by HM Coastguard, it is with regret that there have been four confirmed deaths as a result of this incident." The spokesperson also said that an investigation&nbsp;is underway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Wednesday, ambulances and emergency crews gathered on the quayside at the port of Dover to handle the sinking incident. According to Sky News, some of the migrants were transferred to a hospital in Kent's Ashford town.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to Twitter, British interior minister Suella Braverman tweeted, "I am aware of a distressing incident in the Channel this morning and I am being kept constantly updated while agencies respond and urgently establish the full facts. My heartfelt thoughts are with all those involved.''</p>

<p>The sinking incident comes a day after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to toughen the laws to stop the small boats crossing the Channel, including legislation to prevent migrants from remaining in the country, Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the last week, temperatures have plunged across Britain. Despite this, over 500 migrants have made the journey in small boats since the weekend alone.&nbsp;</p>

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A small boat carrying around 40 migrants sunk off the southeastern coast of England in freezing temperatures, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Subsequently, the British government confirmed the incident and said that four people were killed.

A small boat carrying around 40 migrants sunk off the southeastern coast of England in freezing temperatures, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. Subsequently, the British government confirmed the incident and said that four people were killed. British radio station LBC has earlier said that 43 people had been rescued and a small number had died. According to media reports, lifeboats, helicopters and rescue teams are working with the French and British navies to respond to the event. A government spokesperson, in a statement, said that "At 3:05 (GMT) today, authorities were alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress." It added, "After a coordinated search and rescue operation led by HM Coastguard, it is with regret that there have been four confirmed deaths as a result of this incident." The spokesperson also said that an investigation is underway. On Wednesday, ambulances and emergency crews gathered on the quayside at the port of Dover to handle the sinking incident. According to Sky News, some of the migrants were transferred to a hospital in Kent's Ashford town. Taking to Twitter, British interior minister Suella Braverman tweeted, "I am aware of a distressing incident in the Channel this morning and I am being kept constantly updated while agencies respond and urgently establish the full facts. My heartfelt thoughts are with all those involved.'' The sinking incident comes a day after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to toughen the laws to stop the small boats crossing the Channel, including legislation to prevent migrants from remaining in the country, Reuters reported. In the last week, temperatures have plunged across Britain. Despite this, over 500 migrants have made the journey in small boats since the weekend alone. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Boat carrying migrants sinks off English Coast, four dead

On Wednesday 27 migrants died when their dinghy capsized as they made a perilous crossing of the English Channel. British and French officials have already started trading the blame.

Worst migrant crossing disaster in English Channel, 27 migrants killed