Story highlights Some of the 2,000 migrants were injured trying to get from France to the UK

Eight migrants have died trying to cross the tunnel, a French official says

(CNN) About 2,000 migrants tried to enter the Channel Tunnel through the French terminal near Calais Monday night in an attempt to reach the United Kingdom, operator Eurotunnel said.

Some of the migrants were injured, Eurotunnel France spokesperson Cecile Carreras told CNN. French authorities and Eurotunnel personnel were able to enter the tunnel and intervene

The tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, runs 50 kilometers (31 miles) from a point near Calais, in northern France to Folkestone, in southeastern England.

British Home Secretary Theresa May said France and Great Britain agreed to work together "to return migrants, particularly to West Africa, to ensure that people see that making this journey does not lead to them coming to Europe and being able to settle in Europe."

Calais has long been a gathering place for migrants trying to find a way into the UK. And the journey has been deadly.

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