Six children and pregnant woman among 12 drowned

Bottom of boat ripped open’, plunging more than 60 people into waters off France in year’s worst migrant boat tragedy

- ALASTAIR JAMIESON KATE DEVLIN

Six children and a pregnant woman were among at least 12 migrants who died yesterday when their boat was “ripped open” during the deadliest attempted Channel crossing this year.

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.

A nearby rescue vessel was joined by two fishing boats, a French Navy vessel and local lifeboats.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper described the incident as “horrifying and deeply tragic”, saying that French services “undoubtedly saved many lives, but sadly could not save everyone”.

The latest tragedy means at least 42 people have now died or gone missing while trying to cross to Britain this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration – up from 24 in 2023. More than 2,100 people have arrived in Britain on small boats over the past seven days, according to official UK figures, taking the provisional total this year to 21,403.

Almost 70 migrants were crammed into a vessel only 23 feet (seven metres) long when it got into difficulty in open waters.

“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first aid post was set up to treat victims. “If people don’t know how to swim in the agitated waters ... it can go very quickly.”