Channel disasters: Eight dead as migrant boat sinks between France and the UK

Paris, Sept 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Days after the worst tragedy of the year in the Channel, eight more people drowned overnight today while attempting the perilous crossing from France to the United Kingdom, reports said on Sunday.

Rescue teams were alerted when the dinghy, carrying 50 people, ran into difficulty in waters north of Boulogne-sur-Mer in Pas-de-Calais at around 1am local time shortly after setting off from the French coast, and began to sink shortly afterwards, the BBC reported, citing French police.

According to the French coast guard, the boat was seen heading towards a beach in the town of Ambleteuse, but rescue teams were unable to provide assistance from the sea.

On the beach, emergency services treated 53 people and confirmed eight had died, the coastguard said. No other people were found during searches in the sea.

The Boulogne-sur-mer Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation.

The incident follows the deaths of 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, less than two weeks ago when another migrant boat sank, the deadliest incident in the Channel this year.

A British government spokesman confirmed the tragic event and said French authorities were leading the response and investigation.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his sorrow at the “further loss of life” and reiterated the need to work with European countries to combat the criminal gangs involved in people smuggling, which maintain these dangerous border crossings, the BBC reported.

The recent tragedy comes as improved weather conditions have led to increased attempts to cross the Channel.

Over the past two days, French maritime authorities have rescued around 200 people in multiple operations. The coastguard and other rescuers have rescued people from four boats, each carrying 36 to 61 people.

Authorities monitored 18 separate crossing attempts in just one day.

According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, 45 people have died in the Channel so far this year, the highest number since 2021.

In 2024, more than 21,000 people will have crossed the Channel.

Source: IANS

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