Migrant boat attempts another English Channel crossing a day after deadly capsizing

A group of migrants has been spotted making another attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France, a day after 12 others died when their small inflatable ripped apart on their own failed effort.

The inflatable that set off on Wednesday was so crowded that some of those aboard, crammed side-by-side on the air-filled tubes, had their legs dangling over the sides. Many wore orange life preservers.

The mayor of Wimereux, a French coastal town from where journalists filmed the inflatable boat laden with people on Wednesday morning, pleaded for French and British officials to do more to stem the flow.

“Unfortunately, every day is like this for us. The smugglers — a criminal network — continue with insistence to send people to their deaths in the channel,” said Mayor Jean-Luc Dubaële.

“It really is unacceptable, scandalous. And it is high time that a lasting solution is found with Britain,” he added.

The French maritime agency that oversees that stretch of the busy waterway between France and Britain confirmed to the AP that the inflatable was carrying migrants, with an estimated 40-50 people aboard.

A small patrol boat flying a French flag approached the inflatable at one point and a crew aboard tossed more orange life vests — about half a dozen of them — to the migrants, who caught them.

At least 21,720 migrants have managed to cross the English Channel so far this year, according to UK government figures, which is 3% more than last year but 19% lower than during the same period in 2022.

The boat that ripped apart off the French coast on Tuesday, plunging 65 people into the sea, was one of several crossing attempts that day. British authorities said at least 317 migrants succeeded, arriving aboard five boats.