A tragic incident occurred in the English Channel on Thursday night when an overloaded migrant dinghy capsized and sank, resulting in the death of a baby and the rescue of 65 others.
French maritime authorities successfully rescued the survivors, but the baby, found unconscious, was later pronounced dead. This marks the deadliest year for migrants attempting the perilous Channel crossing since 2018.
The accident took place near the French town of Wissant, according to the maritime authority overseeing the Channel and the North Sea.
The total number of migrants who have lost their lives while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024 has now risen to at least 52, surpassing the previous six-year record.
In September, twelve migrants, including six children, perished in a similar incident. Just a month later, a two-year-old boy and three adults also lost their lives in another tragic boat accident.
British figures indicate a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving by boat this year, with an average of 53 arrivals per day compared to 13 in 2020.
Since January 1, over 26,000 migrants have landed on British shores, according to data from the UK Home Office.
