- Eight individuals lost their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel
- A French rescue ship saved 53 migrants
- The tragedy follows a recent incident with 12 deaths
At least eight individuals lost their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France, according to French maritime authorities on Sunday.
The incident took place just before midnight on Saturday, when a boat carrying dozens of migrants was spotted in distress near Ambleteuse, a northern French town.
A French rescue ship was dispatched to the scene, where emergency services provided medical assistance to 53 migrants on the beach.
Despite their efforts, eight people were confirmed dead, and no additional bodies were recovered from the sea during the search.
Six survivors were hospitalized, including a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia, as reported by Jacques Billant, the Pas-de-Calais prefect.
The survivors, originating from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran, were rescued after their inflatable boat, which had departed from a beach near Vimont, ran aground and was torn apart by rocks.
Fifty-one survivors have been relocated to a reception center in Toulouse. The Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.
This tragedy comes less than two weeks after another fatal crossing attempt resulted in 12 deaths when a migrant boat sank in the Channel. British officials, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressed their sorrow over the latest loss of life, emphasizing the need for a stronger crackdown on human traffickers.
With Europe’s asylum policies becoming more stringent and anti-migrant sentiment rising, migrants continue to face perilous journeys. So far this year, at least 46 migrants have died attempting to cross to the UK. Since 2018, over 137,000 people have made the dangerous crossing to Britain from France, with 14 boats carrying 801 migrants arriving on Saturday alone.
French authorities rescued 200 people from the channel’s dangerous waters on Saturday and observed 18 boat departures.
They continue to warn of the significant risks associated with crossing in overcrowded and fragile boats, particularly under challenging weather conditions.
