At least 12 dead after a boat with dozens of migrants rips apart in waters off northern France
9/2: CBS News 24/7 Episode 2
43:24
At least 12 migrants died after their boat ripped apart Tuesday during an attempted crossing of the English Channel, according to the French Interior Minister. Dozens of people were plunged into the treacherous waters of the busy channel.
“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first aid post was set up to treat victims. “It’s a big drama.”
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Tuesday that 12 died in the “terrible shipwreck,” adding that there were two others still missing and some injured. French officials have given varying numbers of deceased.
DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images
Mayor Barbarin said that at least 13 were dead, a number also given to the AP news agency by a maritime rescue official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the operation.
heading north.
Source: cbsnews.com