A seven-year-old girl has been killed in the British Channel after migrants attempted to sail from France to the UK, authorities have said.
France’s Nord department confirmed a small boat carrying as many as 16 migrants capsized in the Channel while heading from northern France to Britain.
The local authority said the boat was “not appropriately sized to carry so many people”.
They added in a statement that the boat capsized soon after people boarded in the Aa canal just east of Calais.
Girl, 7, killed during Channel crossing attempt
PA
France’s Nord department added that the girl’s parents were travelling with her and three more of their children when the boat overturned.
It is believed the boat sank just a few kilometres from the coast.
The parents have been taken to a hospital in Dunkirk.
The latest incident comes after three migrants were pulled from the water last week.
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Small boat crossing intercepted by Border ForcePAGB News discovered UK and French authorities searched for more victims, with reports a fourth body spotted floating in the sea, as bad weather swept back into the Channel.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene north of Boulogne.
Patrick Leleu, deputy prosecutor at the Judicial court of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said at the time: “I can confirm the death of three migrants who fell into the water this afternoon off the coast of Cap Gris Nez. The investigation is ongoing.”
Last month, the Home Office suggested that social media influencers in countries that account for a large amount of illegal migration to the UK will be offered thousands to push new immigration laws.
TikTok stars will be paid to urge migrants not to cross the channelPA/GettyThe Times reports that the idea emerged in Downing Street from Cass Horowitz, the social media expert behind “Brand Rishi.”
A shortlist of influencers has been drawn up in Albania with the help of a private market consultancy, which includes a rapper, two comedians, lifestyle bloggers, TV personalities and a travel writer.
Rapper Omg Dioh, who has more than 100,000 TikTok followers, was chosen as a suitable candidate because he “uses the platform to influence and educate youngsters to work hard and follow their passions.”
Another influencer is Roxhi Dibrani, a comedian with 150,000 followers, who has a “strong northern Albanian accent, which may help him disseminate messages more easily to young people located in our target regions.”