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Calais strike shuts Eurotunnel amid migrant crisis Calais migrants seek to exploit port strike
(about 1 hour later)
Travel chaos in Calais has deepened, with a strike shutting the Channel Tunnel which links the UK and France. A strike has forced the suspension of services through the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, as hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos.
The company that manages the tunnel said "protesters" had entered the terminal. Workers from a ferry company had previously blockaded Calais port. Eurotunnel, which manages the crossing, said "protesters" had entered the terminal and started a fire.
Eurotunnel said it was seeing "the highest number of migrants in the Calais area... ever". Migrants have been trying to board lorries caught in slow-moving traffic.
Hundreds have used the strike as an opportunity to try to board UK-bound lorries.
The slow-moving traffic results from action by workers from the MyFerryLink company.
The strike is preventing ships leaving or entering the port and the Eurotunnel disruption has left long queues building on the roads into Calais.
About 3,000 migrants are estimated to be living rough around Calais, waiting for a chance to cross the channel.About 3,000 migrants are estimated to be living rough around Calais, waiting for a chance to cross the channel.
Truck drivers were being advised not to stop within about 60 miles (97km) of the port, to stick with other drivers and to make sure all their doors were padlocked. Lorry drivers have been advised to make sure all their doors are padlocked, to stick with other drivers and not to stop within about 60 miles (100km) of the port.
Donald Armour, international manager at the Freight Transport Association, said the situation was "definitely worse than it has ever been". Workers from the MyFerryLink company had previously blockaded the port of Calais in a protest over job cuts.
"There is a lot of fighting between the migrants who all want to be on the best part of the road to get on to the lorries," he said. The strike is preventing ships leaving or entering the port and the Eurotunnel disruption has left long queues building on the roads into Calais.
"We haven't had a fatality but it's not good." The Eurostar train company, which uses the tunnel, said it was "currently unable to run any trains because Eurotunnel has been closed following a fire caused by MyFerryLink demonstrators".
'Miles of traffic''Miles of traffic'
Eurotunnel said the the number of migrants in the Calais area was the "highest ever".
Helicopter footage showed large groups gathered by the side of the road, some chasing and boarding a moving lorry from behind.Helicopter footage showed large groups gathered by the side of the road, some chasing and boarding a moving lorry from behind.
Other migrants were seen talking openly with drivers, while one group was chased away from a lorry by a driver who saw them attempting to break in.Other migrants were seen talking openly with drivers, while one group was chased away from a lorry by a driver who saw them attempting to break in.
One man ran down the middle of the motorway to close the door behind others who had jumped aboard.One man ran down the middle of the motorway to close the door behind others who had jumped aboard.
James Kleinfeld, an eyewitness, told the BBC he had seen dozens of migrants on the side of the road.James Kleinfeld, an eyewitness, told the BBC he had seen dozens of migrants on the side of the road.
"We counted around 50 people that we saw hanging around the junction after the exit from the Channel Tunnel train station," he said."We counted around 50 people that we saw hanging around the junction after the exit from the Channel Tunnel train station," he said.
"I cross quite often but I've never seen any [migrants] hanging around that part. They are on the motorway, they are on the side of the motorway. In the direction of the UK there is miles and miles of traffic.""I cross quite often but I've never seen any [migrants] hanging around that part. They are on the motorway, they are on the side of the motorway. In the direction of the UK there is miles and miles of traffic."
A Eurotunnel spokesman told the BBC the strike was expected to last until 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).A Eurotunnel spokesman told the BBC the strike was expected to last until 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
According to the Home Office, about 19,000 attempts to cross the Channel have been prevented in 2015, more than double the number during the same period last year.According to the Home Office, about 19,000 attempts to cross the Channel have been prevented in 2015, more than double the number during the same period last year.
'Worse than ever'
The Deputy Mayor of Calais, Philippe Mignonet, told the BBC that the UK government was to blame for the number of migrants attempting to cross.
"We will block the port - as simple as that. We'll arrange to block the tunnel if nothing is done," Mr Mignonet said.
Donald Armour, international manager at the UK Freight Transport Association (FTA) , said the situation was "definitely worse than it has ever been".
"There is a lot of fighting between the migrants who all want to be on the best part of the road to get on to the lorries," he said.
"We haven't had a fatality but it's not good."