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Britain beefs up tunnel security to tackle migrant crisis

Xinhua, July 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

British Home Secretary Theresa May on Wednesday vowed to take more urgent measures to prevent thousands of migrants from entering Britain through the Eurotunnel.

May chaired a government emergency meeting to discuss the matter following reports that one man died Tuesday night when about 1,500 migrants tried to make their way to the Eurotunnel platforms in Calais, north France.

"One of the outcomes of the meeting today is more urgent work -- with the government departments, but also with Eurotunnel -- what further measures can be taken to prevent people from getting into the tunnel," May said after the meeting.

She added that there had been migrants trying to get into the Eurotunnel before the security fences were strengthened.

"But crucially what we are looking at now is improving security at the railhead at Coquelles, so we can ensure people are not trying to come through the tunnel," she noted.

Britain has agreed to provide additional funding of up to 7 million pounds (10.9 million U.S. dollars) to increase security at the Channel Tunnel railhead at Coquelles.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said he sympathized with holidaymakers affected by the situation and proposed to work with the French side to put in place "additional security measures."

"I have every sympathy with holidaymakers who were finding access to Calais difficult because of the disturbances there," he said at a news conference during a business trip in Singapore.

"We'll do everything we can to work with the French to bring these things to a conclusion, but it is not a satisfactory situation," he added.

Earlier reports said a migrant died while trying to cross to Britain from France early on Wednesday, bringing to nine the number of migrants who lost their lives in the tunnel since early June.

A Sudanese man aged between 25 and 30 died in Calais, north France, after being hit by a lorry while trying to cross the Channel tunnel to reach British doors, the French news channel BFMTV reported.

According to Eurotunnel, 1,500 migrants tried to access the tunnel on Tuesday night and 2,000 other attempts were reported the previous night.

Calais, where the French end of the Channel Tunnel is located, has been flooded by growing flows of migrants mainly from Libya, Eritrea, Sudan and Syria who fled war, insecurity and poverty.

Camping out in Calais zone, they are trying to board lorries and trains heading to Britain in hope to find a better life in London. Endit