At least 27 migrants die crossing English Channel; UK PM 'appalled and deeply saddened'

At least 27 migrants have lost ir lives after ir boat drowned in English Channel on ir way to United Kingdom on Wednesday. Following incident, interior minister of France has termed it to be worst trdy to date which involved migrants crossing pass. According to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, boat was suspected to be carrying 34 undocumented individuals, AP reported.  

nationalities of asylum seekers were still unkwn at time, Darmanin said. Meanwhile,  regional marine authority, which controls rescue operations, anunced that 27 dead bodies had been discovered, with two persons having survived, while four more had gone missing and were thought to be dead due to drowning. 

Authorities from France and United Kingdom are undertaking an air and sea rescue effort to find remaining survivors, as per BBC. Furrmore, Darmanin told media in French port city of Calais that four accused traffickers were detained on suspicion of being related to wrecked boat. Two of detainees, he added, later appeared in court.  

Following drowning, regional prosecutor launched an inquiry into tragic incident of aggravated killings, for arranging illegal migration, and or offenses. Authorities are still trying to identify deceased and ascertain ir s and nationalities, according to Lille Prosecutor Carole Etienne, who is in charge of inquiry. Throughout years, a significant number of individuals who have been escaping violence or poverty are undertaking risky voy from France in tiny, unseaworthy ships in hopes of obtaining refuge or better chances in United Kingdom. 

"Appalled" by migrants boat accident: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

As per BBC, Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson stated that he was "appalled" by occurrence and that UK will "turn stone" to fight against human trafficking groups. Furr, Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron had agreed on Wednesday evening to beef up collaborative initiatives to prevent crossings of illegal immigrants and end human trafficking gangs, Downing Street informed. 

 fatalities, Johnson as per BBC said, were a "disaster," and w it has become important to "break" human trafficking gangs, who were "literally getting away with murder".  He has asked France to increase its efforts to prevent influx of migrants over English Channel, saying that episode on Wednesday demonstrated how French authorities' attempts to monitor ir beaches have t been adequate. 

Meanwhile, at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, a French naval boat had ticed many bodies in sea and rescued an unspecified number of dead and injured people, including those who were unconscious, according to a spokesperson for marine authority. 

(Im: AP)