Suspected smugglers on trial over deadliest migrant tragedy in France

Despite dozens of distress calls made to the UK and French rescue services, it was nearly 12 hours before the boat was finally found.

A French fishing vessel alerted authorities after reporting bodies floating in the Channel near the UK, according to a court document.

A UK inquiry published in February found that some of the deaths were avoidable and concluded that a French naval vessel failed to respond to an alert from the UK coastguard.