The deaths of four migrants in the English Channel are “truly awful”, the Home Secretary has said.
Four people died after their boat capsized off the northern French coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer, where several people were reported as being in the water at around 4.30am on Friday morning.
According to the French coastguard, 63 migrants were rescued in an operation involving four ships and one helicopter, including a fishing vessel which picked up 14 of the people who got into trouble.
The further loss of life in the Channel this morning is truly awful. My thoughts are with all those affected.
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) July 12, 2024
Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue & bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.
A further four people were taken by a medical team but could not be saved, the maritime prefecture added.
The surviving group of people were returned to Boulogne and attended to by emergency services.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on X, formerly Twitter: “The further loss of life in the Channel this morning is truly awful.
“My thoughts are with all those affected.
“Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk.
“We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue & bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.”
Latest Home Office figures show 419 people made the journey across the Channel from France to the UK in six boats on Tuesday, suggesting an average of around 70 people per boat and taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058.
The reports come as five people including a child died trying to cross the English Channel from France to the UK on April 23.
Reports of more deaths in the channel are a tragedy.
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) July 12, 2024
As a country we must do everything in our power to stop the boats and put an end to this vile trade in human suffering.
Reacting to Friday’s incident, shadow home secretary James Cleverly said on X: “Reports of more deaths in the channel are a tragedy.
“As a country we must do everything in our power to stop the boats and put an end to this vile trade in human suffering.”
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage posted: “4 deaths in the Channel this morning, the new Government had better start moving fast.”
Ms Cooper has launched a Border Security Command designed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs orchestrating the crossings.
A commander for the unit is expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.
The Home Office and HM Coastguard have been contacted for comment.