French maritime authorities reported on Sunday that at least eight people died during a failed attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France.
The incident occurred late Saturday night when authorities detected a boat carrying dozens of people in distress near a beach in Ambleteuse, a northern town. A French rescue ship was dispatched but was unable to assist at sea. Upon reaching the shore, rescue teams provided medical aid to 53 migrants, according to a statement from the French maritime authorities overseeing the Channel and the North Sea.
“Despite the emergency care provided, eight individuals have died,” the statement noted.
The search at sea did not uncover any additional survivors, the authorities added.
Six individuals were transported to hospitals in Boulogne and Calais, including a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia, as reported by Jacques Billant, the Pas-de-Calais prefect. He mentioned that the survivors come from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran.
According to Billant, all of the deceased were adult men.
Survivors of the tragedy have been taken to a sports hall in Ambleteuse, as stated by the Pas-de-Calais prefecture. The Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into the incident.
This latest tragedy occurred nearly two weeks after a similar disaster, when a boat carrying migrants broke apart in the English Channel, leading to the deaths of 12 individuals.
British officials have expressed their sorrow over this new incident. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the BBC, “It’s awful. It’s a further loss of life.”
The Labour Party government in the UK has vowed to intensify efforts against criminal gangs involved in smuggling migrants across the Channel. Discussions with European partners are underway to tackle these gangs more effectively, including strategies for cooperation upstream.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Italy on Monday to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They will discuss Meloni’s measures to address the migrant issue and Italy’s collaboration with Albania, which involves accepting asylum seekers on Italy’s behalf while their claims are processed.
The tightening of asylum rules, rising xenophobia, and harsh treatment of migrants have driven many to attempt perilous crossings. According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 43 migrants had died or gone missing trying to reach the UK this year before Saturday’s incident.
French maritime authorities are conducting additional surveillance and rescue operations along the Pas-de-Calais coast amidst stormy weather. They have cautioned against attempting the crossing in fragile, overloaded boats under challenging conditions, highlighting the “significant risks” involved.
On Saturday, French coast guard and navy vessels rescued 200 people from the perilous waters of the Pas-de-Calais area, according to a report from the French maritime authorities responsible for the Channel and the North Sea.
The rescue operations involved multiple naval services, which intervened with four different boats. One boat was carrying 61 people, another 55, and two others had 48 and 36 people on board, respectively.
Authorities also reported observing 18 attempted boat departures from France to Britain on Saturday.
Earlier this year, there were several tragic incidents during similar crossings. In July, four migrants died when an inflatable boat capsized and deflated. In April, five individuals, including a child, lost their lives during another crossing attempt. Additionally, five bodies were recovered from the sea or found washed up on a beach in January after a migrant boat encountered difficulties in the dark and wintery conditions.
