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Two boys, ages five and eight, are among four people who died after a migrant boat sank off the coast of France.
The deaths of the children, as well as a man and a woman, were confirmed by the regional administration of the northern region.
Fifteen migrants they have been saved so far, according to the administration, which stressed that the list of dead may grow as search and rescue efforts continue.
French search helicopter lands near rescue boat
Eight of those rescued suffered hypothermia and two suffered cardiac arrest, local firefighters said.
Sky News understands that the ship struggled with bad weather and strong winds when it was in French waters about 2 km off the French coast on Tuesday morning.
Around 19 or 20 people were on board the ship in an attempt to reach the UK and at least one other person was still feared missing.
French authorities and a Belgian helicopter launched the rescue after the migrant ship was reported to be in distress off the coast of Dunkirk, according to the French regional shipping agency.
Those officials had previously said that 18 people were rescued and were receiving treatment at hospitals in Calais and Dunkirk.
The Dunkirk prosecutor is investigating the cause of the sinking, which is believed to have caused the highest death toll at a single crossing in the current migration crisis.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a statement saying his thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s families.
He said the UK had offered the French authorities “every support” in their investigation, adding: “We will do everything possible to crack down on ruthless gangs who prey on vulnerable people by facilitating these dangerous journeys.”
The clandestine channel’s British threat commander, Dan O’Mahoney, echoed the condolences and offer of help to French rescuers.
“Just after 10 am … we learned of an ongoing search and rescue incident involving a migrant ship in distress off the coast of France in very bad weather conditions,” O’Mahoney said.
“Today’s tragic events only seek to underscore the risks that facilitators are willing to take to risk the lives of migrants for profit and strengthen our determination to pursue them and bring them to justice.”
There has been a large increase in the number of migrants crossing
O’Mahoney said he wants to “completely end the viability of this route” as crossings have risen to an “unacceptably high number” but that the issue is “very complex.”
In a statement, Interior Minister Priti Patel said she is “truly saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life in French waters this morning” and that her thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s loved ones.
“This tragic news highlights the dangers of crossing the canal and I will do everything I can to stop callous criminals who exploit vulnerable people.”
These crosses have become more common recently, but confirmed deaths are rare.
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More than 7,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel to the UK, up from 1,800 the previous year.
Government figures show that four people died during the trip in 2019 and four so far this year, including a body found on a beach near Calais on October 18.
In August, Sudanese Abdulfatah Hamdallah was reportedly killed while trying to row to the UK.
Ms. Patel has called for the ships to be intercepted at sea and returned to France to make the crossings “unviable”.
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But the United Nations Refugee Agency has raised concerns about the method.
Labor’s shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds tweeted that the sinking is “a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of this crisis,” he said.
Meanwhile, Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said the refugee community in Calais is “completely devastated” by the latest deaths.
“It is cruel and horrifying that this time, young children are among the victims,” he said.
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“This unnecessary loss of life has to end. No one should feel that they have to get into a fragile ship and risk their lives crossing the English Channel, much less vulnerable children.”
Despite mobilizing all of France’s resources, the country’s citizenship minister, Marlene Schiappa, said “the losses are great and the final number is still uncertain.”
Bertrand Ringot, mayor of Gravelines, southwest of Dunkirk, said on Twitter that he expressed concern to the French government last month about the theft of ships and the bursting of crosses. He said he will call for more security in and near the port as the Brexit transition draws to a close.
