Four migrants have drowned in the English Channel as they attempted to reach the UK, reports the French coastguard.
The French authorities were alerted to an accident at sea off Boulogne-sur-Mer, south of Calais, during the night between Thursday and Friday. In the subsequent operation, four dead bodies were lifted out of the water by rescue helicopters.
An unknown number of living people were rescued from the water, according to the French coastguard's information.
As far as is known, 19 people have died so far this year while attempting to migrate across the English Channel, which usually takes place in overcrowded and substandard boats.
