Three people are believed to have been crushed to death and three others were missing in two separate incidents as migrants attempted to cross the English Channel, French officials said on Wednesday.

The latest tragedies, which took place in northern France overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, bring the number of deaths this year linked to crossings in overcrowded dinghies to at least 23, according to an AFP tally based on official French data.

Laurent Touvet, the top state official for the northern region of Pas-de-Calais, said the three victims were a female and two males.

“They are young people,” the prefect told reporters, adding there might have been two minors among the victims.

The tragedy occurred off the coast of Sangatte, he said.

At around 5:00 am (0300 GMT) Wednesday, a tugboat

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