Four dead in migrant boat accident in English Channel

London, Dec 14 (EFE).- Four people have died and 43 have been rescued in the English Channel after a small boat capsized off the coast of Kent in southeast England, the UK government confirmed Wednesday.

The small boat encountered issues while crossing the Channel, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, before capsizing early on Wednesday morning.

According to British media reports, more than 30 of those who were saved were rescued from the waters of the Channel amid freezing temperatures.

The incident triggered an extensive search and rescue operation involving the UK Coastguard, the UK Navy, the Border Force and Kent County Police.

Vessels from the English towns of Dungeness, Hastings and Ramsgate and two coastguard helicopters also assisted in the search and rescue.

The incident comes a day after prime minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a new plan Tuesday in the House of Commons to tackle irregular migration to the UK, with new measures intended to “stop the boats” carrying undocumented migrants across the Channel.

Addressing the House on Wednesday, home secretary Suella Braverman said the “government would not stop until we have seen progress, until people understand that taking this lethal journey is not safe, it is not lawful, and it will not lead them to a better life in the UK.

“There are millions of people around the world who are fleeing conflict and poverty and who seek a better life elsewhere. Our capacity in this country is not infinite,” she said. EFE

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