Boat carrying migrants sinks; 12 people killed

Paris: 12 people, mostly women and children, drowned after a migrant boat capsized off the northern coast of France, while 53 others were rescued.

More than 70 migrants were on board the ill-fated boat, which capsized in the English Channel about 5 kilometers (3 miles) off the coast of France’s Cape Gresins, according to the World News Agency.

The boat was carrying migrants from African countries to European countries with mostly Eritreans on board. Among the dead were 10 women and children.

3 helicopters and 4 boats participated in the search operation during which 12 bodies were recovered while more than 50 were safely evacuated who were in dire need of medical attention. Many are in critical condition.

Keep in mind that this maritime sector is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships passing through it every day, and the weather is often rough, making travel dangerous even when the seas seem calm. .

Despite this, last year around 30,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats and reached the UK.