World | Mon Jul 11, 2016 4:07pm EDT

Calais mayor says remaining half of 'Jungle' camp to be dismantled

French authorities will soon announce that the remaining half of the "Jungle" migrant camp near Calais will be dismantled, the mayor of the northern port city said on Monday.

In February and March authorities dismantled the southern half of the camp, where thousands of migrants fleeing war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have massed, hoping to make their way to Britain.

About 4,500 migrants were still living in the remaining northern half of the camp as recently as June, according to the regional prefecture.

Calais' conservative mayor, Natacha Bouchart, said she had received assurances from officials close to Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve that the dismantling of the northern part of the camp would soon be announced.

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