BBC witnesses tragedy as 7-year-old and fouradults die trying to cross English Channel | BBC News

A seven-year-old girl and four adults have died whileattempting to cross the English Channel in a smallboat. They're the latest migrants to have lost theirlives while attempting to reach the UK by sea from France.

The BBC was filming on a beach south of the port ofCalais at night when a group of 110 people boardedthe heavily overloaded boat, as French police tried to stop them.

The boat quickly ran into troubleThe seven-year-oldgirl, a woman and three men died despite efforts to rescue them.

The incident took place one day after British membersof parliament approved plans to send migrantsseeking asylum to Rwanda to have their claimsrocessed there, in a deal with the east African nation.

The UK government says this will deter migrants fromcrossing the Channel in small boats. UK oppositionparties have opposed the plan saying it will beineffective and inhumane.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Andrew Harding in France.