Some 257 migrants arrived in the UK, a day after 12 people died in ‘deadliest crossing of the year’ – The Irish News

Some 257 migrants arrived in the UK on Wednesday after crossing the Channel, a day after 12 people died in the perilous crossing.

A pregnant woman and six children were among those killed in what has been described as the deadliest Channel crossing tragedy so far this year when their boat was “torn apart” and sank off the northern French coast at Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday.

Five boats arrived on Wednesday, averaging 51 people per boat. People believed to be migrants were pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, amid calm sea conditions.

The total number of small boat arrivals in 2024 is provisionally expected to be 21,977.

That is 3% higher than last year, when the total was 21,372, but 20% lower than in 2022, when the total was 27,409.

Over the past nine days, from August 27 to September 4, there have been 2,683 arrivals – the highest number in a nine-day period so far this year.

In all of 2023, 29,437 people arrived, a 36% drop from the record 45,774 in 2022.

Sixty-five people were rescued in Tuesday’s incident. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the incident “shocking and deeply tragic”. He told MPs in the House of Commons: “We must be determined to put an end to this.”

His comments came after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said “vital” efforts to dismantle “dangerous and criminal smuggling gangs” and improve border security “must continue apace”.

More than 30 people have already died crossing the Channel this year, compared to 12 people believed to have died or gone missing in 2023, according to the French coast guard.

On Wednesday, reporters on a beach in Wimereux, near the scene of Tuesday’s incident, described a large group of migrants crammed into a small rowing boat, with many of their legs dangling over the side.

The media filmed the boat for over an hour as it slowly moved out to sea, while passers-by walked their dogs along the beach. The boat was reportedly approached by a patrol boat flying a French flag. A crew member threw more life jackets to the migrants.

Meanwhile, the sloop was followed at a distance by a larger French patrol boat.

Fishermen who found several dead bodies on Tuesday said they were moved to tears when they saw the bodies of two young women.