Paris: Thirty-one migrants died when their inflatable boat sank off the coast of Calais, France, according to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. The boat had set sail for the United Kingdom across the English Channel.
The International Organization for Migration, said that thee incident took place on Wednesday was the largest single loss of life in the Channel since the organisation began collecting data in 2014. "A fisherman reported the finding of roughly fifteen bodies drifting off the coast of Calais about 2 p.m.," according to French radio France Info.
"Immediate reinforcement of resources for Frontex at the exterior borders of the European Union," French President Emmanuel Macron ordered.
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, stated: "The loss of life at sea in the English Channel has surprised, outraged, and grieved me terribly. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. Now is the moment for all of us to rise up, work together, and do everything we can to stop these gangs from killing people." Darmanin landed in Calais later that evening, where he met with Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais, at the hospital where the rescued migrants are being treated. He reaffirmed the smugglers' illegal nature in organising these crossings.
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