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Several migrants have died overnight off the coast of France while attempting to cross the Channel, according to French officials.
The deaths occurred in the commune of Ambleteuse, according to reports this morning.
French maritime authorities said on Saturday that 200 people were rescued in a 24-hour period over Friday and Saturday.
People were rescued from four different boats by the French coast guard and other first responders – one boat had 61 people, another had 55, and two more had 48 and 36 individuals each, according to the BBC.
All of those rescued were brought back to land.
Regional prefect Jacques Billant is set to hold a news conference at 10:00 local time (9am BST).
The incident comes more than a week the deadliest attempted Channel crossing this year, when six children and a pregnant woman were among at least 12 migrants who died when their boat was “ripped open”.
More than 53 survivors were plucked from waters off Gris-Nez point, between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, during a major air and sea rescue operation on 3 September.
More than 30 people have died in Channel crossings so far this year.
This is a breaking news story, more follows…
Source: independent.co.uk
