French maritime authorities say three people have died after a boat sank in the Channel.
The French Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture announced that 46 more people had been rescued after the accident off Calais on Wednesday morning.
A rescue operation has been launched off the coast of Calais after a life jacket was discovered at sea. During the search, 48 people were rescued and first aid was given to two unconscious people who were taken to the mink boat. They were later pronounced dead in Calais, according to France's Marine Prefecture.
Two boats and a helicopter were used along with medical teams in the rescue operation. Survivors are being cared for by shore-based rescue teams, while the search continues for anyone who may be at sea, authorities added.
The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation.
The French coast guard has reported 48 deaths so far this year.
Dr Wanda Wypolska, chief executive of the charity Safe Passage International, said: “Days after a baby died in the Strait tragedy, two more people have lost their lives on this perilous journey. The deadliest year for people crossing, with at least 55 deaths so far, cannot be normalized or accepted.
“Governments must urgently open safe routes. Without these, smugglers will continue to take advantage of the lack of safe alternatives for people fleeing war and persecution. I fear that more people will die here seeking protection.”
Steve Valdes-Symonds, Amnesty International UK's Refugee and Migrant Rights Program Director, said fatal accidents in the English Channel occur with “alarming regularity” and urged the government to consider alternatives to the dangerous crossing. He called for safe alternatives to be provided.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “This devastating tragedy is yet another reminder that smuggling gangs only care about the profits they make, not the lives they put at risk.” Ta. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. ”
He said the government's new border force would “intensify efforts to investigate, apprehend and prosecute” smugglers.
The latest Home Office figures show 28,353 people have crossed the Channel in small boats to reach the UK so far this year. The number of arrivals increased by 9% compared to the same point in 2023 and decreased by 25% compared to 2022.
