Pregnant woman and six children among 12 dead after boat carrying migrants capsizes in English Channel tragedy

A PREGNANT woman and six children are among 12 people who died after a boat carrying dozens of migrants capsized in the English Channel.

The mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Frédéric Cuvillier, confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has said those killed included "about 10 women, some of whom were minors".

Meanwhile Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor, Guirec Le Bras confirmed at a press conference those individuals were "primarily of Eritrean origin", but officials "do not have consolidated details that would allow us to specify the exact nationalities".

A rescue operation was launched after the boat sank off the coast at Wimereux, according to French media.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin later revealed 51 people were rescued from the overcrowded boat - less than eight had lifejackets.

It is understood two people are in a critical condition.

He added that 70 people were on the small boat which measured less than seven metres.

It comes after Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of French coastal town Le Portel, told France 3: "Around 10 people in cardio-respiratory arrest".

The boat capsized around 28 miles south-west of Calais at around 11.30am.

A French emergency services spokesman said: "The sinking of a boat overcrowded with around 70 migrants on board took place early on Tuesday,’ said the spokesman.

"A Navy helicopter is bringing in victims who are in a critical condition.

"Some appear to have been suffocated. Around 10 people have been reported dead."

A medical centre has been set up at Boulogne-sur-Mer.

French coastguard vessels Minck and Abeille Normandie have been seen on search and rescue duty near Le Portel, along with multiple helicopters.

Border Force boats Hurricane and Ranger are also said to have been involved in the rescue operation involved, with the Dover and Dungeness lifeboats also assisting.

The lifeboats are understood to have both now returned to the Port of Dover - with the Dungeness vessel filled with migrants upon its arrival.

Beyond the dead, many others were "in a critical condition", said a French emergency services spokesman.

Around 50 people were rescued from the stricken boat but this figure may include dead bodies, he said.

Many of those rescued were "in a state of cardiac arrest", suggesting they were crushed inside the overcrowded craft.

The boat launched from Le Portel, an industrialised area with a decommissioned hoverport on the beach.

It is surrounded by sand dunes, making it easier for people smugglers to get boats into the sea without alerting local police.

The boat had around 70 people including men, women and children on board when it set off.

The alarm is said to have been raised by migrants on board the board, who put out Mayday calls using their mobile phones.

An advanced medical emergency post was set up on the beach at Le Portel, while some 20 emergency vehicles could be seen nearby.

The emergency led to Gerard Darmanin, France’s acting Interior Minister, saying he would be attending the scene on Tuesday afternoon.

The deaths of at least 12 migrants in the English Channel is “horrifying” and “deeply tragic,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said.

Mike Tapp, Labour MP for Dover and Deal, said: "I'm saddened to hear of more reported deaths in the Channel. My thoughts are with all those affected.

"These evil smuggling gangs are killing people in our seas and will not be left to commit these crimes."

The worst tragedy of this kind came in November 2021, when 27 migrants died after a dinghy sank while heading to the UK –  the highest recorded number of deaths from a single incident.

Last year, there were 67,337 asylum applications to the UK, and 29,437 of them came from people who arrived in small boats.

More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far this year.

The milestone figure was passed last week when 614 people crammed on to ten boats were intercepted.

Worryingly, the average number of people packed on to each vessel by smugglers has risen to above 60 this year as enforcement limits supplies of boats.

The summer surge has come as Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deepen cooperation with France during a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.

“The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command."