Four Migrants Die in English Channel Crossing Attempt

Four migrants have tragically lost their lives after a boat capsized while attempting to cross the English Channel, according to the French coastguard. The incident occurred off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.

Overnight, a navy patrol boat reported that migrants had fallen into the sea. Despite rescue efforts, four people found unconscious could not be saved, while 63 were rescued. A helicopter and a fishing vessel also assisted in the operation.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the incident as "truly awful." The coastguard explained that several individuals fell into the sea after part of their boat "deflated."

The initial alert was raised at 04:30 local time (03:30 BST), with a helicopter arriving about 30 minutes later. It found several people "drifting in the water while others were still clinging to the broken rubber dinghy." Fourteen people were rescued by the fishing vessel and 49 others by the French navy ship.

"All the shipwrecked individuals were then brought ashore in Boulogne and taken care of by the emergency services on land," the coastguard said.

UK Home Office figures show that 484 migrants crossed the English Channel on Monday and Tuesday. On 18 June, 882 people crossed the Channel on 15 small boats, marking a new record for the year. Over 13,000 people have crossed the Channel so far this year.

Reacting to the deaths, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, "Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs."

Earlier this week, the new Labour government set out plans to tackle the small boat crisis. Ms. Cooper announced that she would appoint a leader for the UK's new Border Security Command within weeks. The government hopes this new body will reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel.