Four Die After Record Day for Channel Crossings

At least four people died overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats bound for the United Kingdom. One person was killed after a boat capsized off France's northern coast. A one-year-old child and six other people were also injured, the BBC reported.

Hours later, French rescue workers found three people with no signs of life aboard another boat near Dunkirk. The incidents followed the busiest day of the year for Channel crossings, when 752 migrants reached Britain aboard nine boats.

The British government described each death as a tragedy and warned of the dangers posed by people-smuggling gangs that exploit vulnerable migrants.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government had made progress in reducing illegal crossings, but acknowledged that the number of migrants arriving by small boat must continue to fall.

(mja)