A baby died when an overloaded migrant boat sank in the English Channel off the coast of France on Thursday night, according to French maritime authorities.
The incident took place near the town of Wissant. The maritime authority responsible for the Channel and the North Sea reported that 65 people were rescued, but unfortunately, a baby was found unconscious and later pronounced dead.
This sinking marks a tragic milestone, bringing the total number of migrant deaths while attempting to cross the Channel this year to at least 52— the highest number since 2018.
Earlier this month, six children and six adults lost their lives in a similar incident. In another case last month, a two-year-old boy and three adults died when overloaded boats faced difficulties during the perilous journey.
Official British figures indicate that an average of 53 migrants have arrived by boat in the UK this year, compared to just 13 in 2020. Since January 1, more than 26,000 migrants have reached British shores, according to the UK Home Office.
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