Four migrants drowned overnight off Boulogne sur Mer on France’s northern coast while attempting to cross to Britain, French maritime police reported on Friday.
According to AFP, a navy patrol boat responded after being alerted to migrants falling into the sea. Four people pulled out of the water by helicopter were dead but others were rescued alive, the police added.
The incident occurred early Friday morning when a French Navy patrol boat spotted the overcrowded vessel deflating off the French coast. Several people were found drifting in the water, while others were clinging to the broken rubber dinghy. The French coast guard, along with navy vessels, a fishing boat, and a navy helicopter, joined the rescue effort, saving 63 people. The survivors were brought to the shore in Boulogne to receive medical attention and temporary shelter. The Boulogne public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation, suspecting intentional homicide.
The prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, Jacques Billant, blamed the human smuggling rings for the tragedy. He emphasized that these criminal networks are putting migrant populations at risk by arranging illegal crossings at astronomical prices.”It’s dangerous even when the sea seems calm,” Billant said. “Setting sail in an overloaded boat, with particularly unfavourable weather conditions like those this morning, is certainly risking death.”The incident highlights the ongoing issue of migrants attempting to reach the U.K. by crossing the English Channel.
The latest figures from Britain’s Home Office show that 14,120 people have made the journey so far this year. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a Border Security Command to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.Cooper expressed her condolences to those affected, stating, “The further loss of life in the Channel is truly awful. Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.”Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigrant Reform UK party, also commented on the situation, urging the new government to take swift action.
This tragedy comes after a similar incident last month, where British authorities rescued 80 migrants at sea after a small boat got into difficulty. In 2023, an estimated 30,000 people made the crossing.