Five people, including a teenager and at least one child, have died after a migrant boat sank in the English Channel on Wednesday. Four others remain missing, according to a meeting of Kent County Council. The vessel, carrying dozens of people, began taking on water in freezing conditions.
Eight children were among the 39 people rescued, a government source said, contradicting an earlier figure of 12 from Kent County Council. The rescue was carried out by a fishing trawler and lifeboats, with crew members pulling people from the water and offering warm clothing and food.
Footage from the scene showed the inflatable boat filling with water as occupants, some wearing only T-shirts and thin lifejackets, screamed for help. Survivors told the BBC they had each paid £5,000 for the crossing. The search for the missing was called off at 17:00 GMT on Thursday.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said vessels in the area had been asked to post lookouts. French maritime officials reported that around ten precarious boats attempted the crossing overnight. The rescue operation involved helicopters and boats from both sides of the Channel.
