Hundreds of people, mostly women, gathered in cities around France on Saturday in support of Gisele Pelicot, a woman whose husband is on trial, accused of drugging her and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her over nearly a decade in a case that has shocked the nation.

The French woman who was allegedly drugged by her now ex-husband and raped by dozens of men while unconscious is becoming a symbol of the nation's fight against sexual violence.

Hundreds of people, mostly women, gathered in cities around France on Saturday in support of Gisele Pelicot, a woman whose husband is on trial, accused of drugging her and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her over nearly a decade in a case that has shocked the nation.

Several people died early Sunday during a failed attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France, French authorities said. A rescue operation is underway, and survivors of the tragedy have been taken to the sports hall in the northern town of Ambleteuse, according to a statement from the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais region.

A least 8 people have died during a failed attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France, authorities say.