Two people die trying to cross Channel from France | France

Two people have died while trying to cross the Channel to Britain, French authorities said.

The incident occurred south of the beaches of Neufchâtel-Hardelot, when about 100 people were trying to get to the UK on a makeshift boat. French authorities said about 60 others attempting the crossing had been rescued.

About 60 people were currently being taken care of, said Isabelle Fradin-Thirode, an official in nearby Montreuil-sur-Mer.

The incident brings the number of Channel crossing deaths to at least 25 this year, according to an Agence-France Presse tally based on official data.

Since January, a record 31,000 people have arrived in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats.

Under a recent Franco-British scheme, the UK can return them after arrival if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, including those who have passed through a “safe country” to reach UK shores. In return, London will accept an equal number of people from France who are likely to have their asylum claims granted.