Multiple people drown in events in the English Channel

At least 27 people have drowned in the English Channel in two separate incidents, the deadliest disaster on record involving migrants attempting to cross the perilous waterway.

On Wednesday, a boat carrying about 40 people capsized in the English Channel, and at least 31 people are feared dead.

On Tuesday, a dinghy carrying migrants sank off the coast of France, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people and the rescue of two survivors.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Twitter that the situation in the Channel was "dramatic," and that France and the United Kingdom should work together to end the crossings.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the loss of life was a "tragedy" and that the government was "determined to stop these illegal crossings."

The deadliest disaster on record involving migrants attempting to cross the English Channel occurred in November 2021, when 27 people died.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 25,000 people attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats in 2021, up from 8,404 in 2020.

The IOM has warned that the number of people attempting to cross the Channel is likely to increase in the coming months as the weather improves.

The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and the crossing is extremely dangerous. The water is cold, the currents are strong, and the weather can change quickly.

Smugglers often pack migrants into overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, which can easily capsize.