At least three migrants have died in the sinking of a boat this morning in the English Channel, in the United Kingdom. The ship, which was carrying around 40 migrants, has sunk off the frigid coast of southeast England.
The British government and emergency services confirmed that the British and French navies collaborated to respond to the incident, which occurred around 3:40 a.m., sending lifeboats, helicopters and rescue teams.
British radio station LBC reported that 43 people had been rescued, with "a small number" having died. Sky News claimed that at least three people had been killed.
"We are aware of an incident in UK waters and all relevant agencies are supporting a coordinated response," a government spokesman said. "Further details will be provided in due course," he added.
In the past week, temperatures have plunged across Britain, bringing snow to some parts of the country. The temperature was recorded at 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit) in a city near the canal on Wednesday morning.
But despite the freezing temperatures, more than 500 migrants have made the perilous journey in small boats since the weekend, as people smugglers organizing the channel crossings took advantage of low winds and calm seas.
More than 40,000 migrants have arrived from France this year, with many making the journey from Afghanistan or Iran to travel across Europe and on to Britain. In the last year, there has also been a significant increase in the number of Albanians crossing the sea, a fact that the government has taken advantage of to toughen its anti-immigration rhetoric.
Ambulances and emergency teams gathered at the quayside in the Port of Dover to deal with the sinking. Sky News said some people had been taken to a hospital in Ashford, Kent, but it is not known if they are survivors or fatalities.
"I am aware of a distressing incident that has taken place on the channel this morning and am constantly being updated as the agencies respond and urgently establish all the facts. My thoughts are with all involved," said Britain's Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, via Twitter.
The new incident came a day after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to toughen laws to stop small boats crossing the English Channel, including legislation to prevent migrants from staying in the country.
Sunak said the government was sending a message that "enough is enough" and people were "right to be angry" at repeated failures to address the issue. Polls show that the government's inability to stop the arrival of young men, often via small boats, is a major frustration for many voters, especially after the country voted to leave the European Union so it could better control its own borders.
