At least 12 people killed after boat capsizes in English Channel

At least 12 people have lost their lives and dozens more have been rescued after their boat capsized during an attempted crossing of the English Channel, according to authorities.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the death toll and said rescue operations were ongoing on Tuesday to locate two people still missing. He also announced plans to visit the site near Boulogne-sur-Mer later in the day.

"Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open," said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel, a town near Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Etienne Baggio, a spokesperson for the French maritime prefecture responsible for that section of the sea, reported that rescuers had pulled 65 people from the water. Baggio noted that this incident marks the deadliest migrant boat tragedy in the English Channel so far this year, adding that many of those on board lacked life vests. The exact cause of the boat's damage and its type remain unclear, though some migrants attempt the crossing in rubber dinghies.

The maritime prefecture stated that the boat encountered trouble off Gris-Nez point, situated between Boulogne-sur-Mer and the port of Calais further north.

Sea temperatures in the area were approximately 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the deaths as "horrifying and deeply tragic." In a statement, Cooper condemned the "gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives," accusing them of caring only about the profits they make.

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 30 refugees and migrants have died or gone missing while attempting to cross to the UK this year.

UK Home Office data, updated on Tuesday, indicates that at least 2,109 people have tried to cross the English Channel in small boats over the past seven days. This figure includes those found in the channel or upon arrival.