大象传媒

At least twenty seven people among them five women and a young girl have died in the English Channel between the UK and France.

The small dinghy in which they were trying to cross the stretch of water sank near the city of Calais.

The International Organization for Migration said it was the biggest single loss of life in the Channel since it began collecting data in 2014.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "shocked, appalled and deeply saddened" by the tragedy. His French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron is to hold an emergency meeting today.

Newsday spoke to Tony Smith, former head of the UK border force - now a global border security consultant.

(Photo: A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, by RNLI Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel. Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)