Two women die after migrant boat runs aground near Boulogne-sur-Mer

Two young women have died after a small boat carrying migrants from northern France towards the UK drifted and ran aground near Boulogne-sur-Mer, French officials said.

The boat was carrying about 82 people when it set out overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

Officials said its engine would not start, leaving it to drift before it eventually reached a beach near Neufchatel-Hardelot, about 12 kilometres south of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Christophe Marx, a regional government official, said 17 people were rescued at sea and taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Thirteen people with moderate injuries and three others with serious wounds, including burn victims, were taken to hospital.

The deaths add to a series of recent fatal incidents on the French-British border route.

Officials said this was the third such tragedy in just over a month in the area.

The women were believed to be about 20 years old and of Sudanese origin, although officials said an investigation would confirm their nationality.

They were found dead inside the boat after it ran aground.

Authorities said those being treated in hospital would be interviewed by border police to help determine who was responsible for the crossing.

The wider investigation is also expected to examine how the boat came to drift and why the engine failed.

The incident comes after France and the UK last month signed a new three-year deal on security operations aimed at stopping Channel crossings.

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