Three people, including a child, have died following a tragic attempt to cross the English Channel in a small overcrowded boat that encountered difficulty off the northern coast of France, authorities have confirmed.
The victims include a 10-year-old child and two women in their 30s, who were among 105 passengers aboard the vessel that departed from Blériot Plage beach in Calais on Monday morning.
French maritime authorities say a distress call was received shortly after the boat set out, prompting an urgent rescue operation in the Channel waters. Emergency teams were deployed, including a helicopter with medical personnel, as conditions on board deteriorated.
Despite rescue efforts, the three passengers were treated on board but were later confirmed dead by emergency medical teams. The remaining passengers were later transported to safety and disembarked at the port of Calais.
Officials from the French Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea coordinated the response, while AFP news agency reported the evacuation and recovery efforts at the scene.
The incident highlights the ongoing dangers of Channel crossings, where overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels continue to put migrants and asylum seekers at extreme risk during attempts to reach the United Kingdom.
Authorities say investigations are continuing into the circumstances of the voyage, including the conditions of the boat and how it became distressed so soon after departure.