Migrants from France try to cross the English Channel to Great Britain almost every day.
Many get into distress at sea - now a boat has overturned and many people have died.
Calais - 31 people died in the sinking of a boat carrying migrants en route to the UK.
Among them were five women and a little girl, said France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Wednesday evening in Calais.
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More than 400 migrants rescued in the English Channel
Thousands of migrants try to cross the Strait from France to Great Britain every year - many must be rescued.
Within a day alone, hundreds got into distress.
More than 400 migrants rescued in the English Channel
292 migrants rescued from the English Channel near Calais
The weather is getting worse, but that doesn't stop desperate migrants in Calais from attempting the crossing to the UK.
Now hundreds had to be saved.
292 migrants rescued from the English Channel near Calais
Record number of migrants crossed the English Channel
More and more migrants are trying to come to the UK.
They try the dangerous crossing in small boats.
For the first time, more than 1000 people crossed from the mainland.
Record number of migrants crossed the English Channel
Two other people who were on the boat were therefore saved.
Four smugglers who may have been involved in the failed crossing from France were arrested.
French President Emmanuel Macron meanwhile called for a crisis meeting at European level.
France will not allow the English Channel to be turned into a cemetery and smugglers put human lives in danger.
The funds of the border protection agency Frontex at the external borders of the EU should be increased immediately.
dpa
