The French navy rescued 42 people from the distressed vessel, including five of the people who lost their lives. British ships also participated in the rescue effort, rescuing approximately 13 individuals.

The boat sank off the coast of Calais/Wissant, France. The cause of the sinking is not yet known.

Local mayor Franck Dhersin shared an image on social media depicting some of the rescued migrants wrapped in gold aluminum blankets aboard a rescue boat.

In his post, Mayor Dhersin highlighted the recurring nature of these tragedies occurring off the coast of Calais/Wissant. He expressed the urgent need to move beyond merely recording the rising death tolls in both the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea.

The English Channel is one of the world's busiest maritime passages, but attempting to cross it on small boats poses extreme hazards. Human traffickers often overload these vessels, leading to frequent loss of life in the turbulent waters. (ILKHA)