Four migrants die while trying to cross English Channel

Four migrants have died in French waters while trying to cross the Channel into the UK, reports have said.

The boat, carrying roughly 70 people, reportedly overturned in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to the French news agency AFP.

Overnight rescue efforts in the French town of Wimereux, south of Calais, involved dozens of people being pulled from the water.

The four dead were reported to be of Syrian or Iraqi origin.

Another person was seriously injured in the accident and is being treated at a hospital in the nearby town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

According to the reports, the English coast guard had no involvement in the incident.

There were ten children on-board the vessel according to the French Coast Guard, but none of these children are thought to be among the dead or wounded.

Commenting on the incident, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “We are deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life in the Channel today. Our thoughts are with the victims and the friends and families directly affected by this tragedy.”

“The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the Government to expand safe routes for refugees, it’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again.

“This must act as a wake-up call to take decisive action and reduce dangerous Channel crossings by providing safe routes for those fleeing war-torn countries or repressive regimes. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the Government must put in place safe routes and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our country’s values.”

This story is being updated.