At least 8 people dead after boat carrying migrants capsizes in the English Channel

At least 12 migrants died trying to cross the English Channel to England, with the French government confirming the deadliest such disaster of the year. The incident occurred when a boat carrying over 50 migrants sank off the northern coast of France, with around a dozen individuals found in critical condition. Emergency crews rescued 65 people, with a total of three helicopters, two fishing vessels, and two boats deployed in the search and rescue operation. The mayor of Le Portel described the incident, stating that the bottom of the boat ripped open, and that the agitated waters made it difficult for people who don't know how to swim to survive. This incident brings the total number of people who have crossed the Channel to England to 21,403 as of September 2, 2024, with Afghans being the top nationality crossing the Channel in the year ending June 2024.