Two women have died after a boat carrying 82 people attempting to cross the English Channel suffered engine failure and ran aground near Calais, French authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred early this morning when the overcrowded vessel, which had set off from the French coast, experienced mechanical problems. The boat then drifted and became stuck on a sandbank.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, two women could not be revived. The remaining passengers were rescued and brought ashore, where they received medical attention.
This tragedy underscores the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach the UK via small boats, with hundreds of lives lost in recent years.