Bodies of 16 who died in English Channel boat disaster returned to Iraq

The remains were transported by ambulances to the hometowns of the deceased

The bodies of 16 people who drowned when their boat sank in the English Channel as they tried to cross from France to Britain were repatriated early on Sunday to the Iraqi Kurdish region.

A plane carrying the bodies arrived at about 2am in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq.

The remains were taken by ambulances to the hometowns of the deceased in Darbandikhan, Ranya, Soran and Qadrawa.

At least 27 people died in the November 24 tragedy, the deadliest disaster since the Channel became a major route for migrant trafficking.

At the airport terminal in Erbil, families waited for the arrival of the remains of their loved ones, some hugging each other or showing photos of their departed relatives.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the repatriation had been postponed twice.

The 27 victims were mostly men but seven women, a 16-year-old and a child, 7, also drowned.

Migrants are brought ashore at Dungeness by RNLI Lifeboat members after crossing the Channel. Reuters

The past three years have seen a significant rise in attempted Channel crossings by migrants, despite the dangers. AFP

Migrants on board a Border Force rescue boat line up to disembark at Dover harbour after crossing the Channel. Reuters

A life jacket is left in the water after a group of more than 40 migrants got on an inflatable dinghy to leave the coast of northern France and cross the Channel. Reuters

Migrants are escorted by Border Force staff in Dungeness, after being brought ashore by an RNLI lifeboat. Reuters

A woman with a child is brought ashore safely. Reuters

Migrants walk along a British beach after being brought ashore by an RNLI lifeboat. Reuters

At least 27 migrants bound for Britain died on Wednesday when their boat sank in the English Channel. AP

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin speaks to the press in Calais, northern France, after the tragedy. AP

France's interior minister has called it the biggest tragedy involving migrants on the dangerous crossing to date. AP

A man wheels a gurney into a warehouse in Calais, where it is believed the bodies of migrants are being transported. PA

French police look at a map of the coast at Wimereux, in northern France. The stretch of beach is believed to be used by migrants aiming to cross the Channel. PA

A funeral van leaves the port of Calais. AFP

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought to Dover by the RNLI. PA

Apart from the 16 Iraqi Kurds, the 26 identified included an Iranian Kurd, four Afghan men, three Ethiopians, a Somali and an Egyptian.

Only two people were rescued after their inflatable boat capsized, an Iraqi Kurd and a citizen of Sudan, the French interior ministry.

The Iraqi survivor said there had been a total of 33 people on board the vessel.

French investigators are still trying to establish a clearer picture of what happened during the disaster.

They have been investigating reports that passengers had telephoned both French and British emergency services to appeal for help when the vessel began sinking.

The disaster also caused major diplomatic tensions between London and Paris.

Within 48 hours of the accident, French President Emmanuel Macron accused British prime minister Boris Johnson of being “not serious” in his approach to stopping the crossings.

Paris was irked by Mr Johnson's initial reaction, which was seen as shifting blame to France.