Six people died and over 50 persons were rescued as a migrant boat capsized while trying to cross the English Channel on Saturday. According to reports, the migrant vessel capsized as over a dozen boats tried to make the crossing at the same time.
According to reports, over 50 persons were rescued in a joint rescue operation by British and French forces. “This morning, a migrant boat capsized off Calais," French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on social media. "My thoughts are with the victims.”
The Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea reported about 50 people were rescued.
Initial reports indicated that six of those rescued were in critical condition. One individual later died after being transported by helicopter to a Calais hospital, and an update confirmed the deaths of five others who were ferried to shore by boat.
The deaths come as Britain's conservative ruling party has sought to stop crossings of small, often unseaworthy, boats with a variety of policies that have come under fire for failing to stem the flow of migrants.
UK's Home Secretary Suella Braverman condoled the death. “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today. I have spoken with our Border Force teams this morning who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident,” The Guardian reported quoting Braverman.
Anne Thorel, a volunteer who was part of the rescue efforts said they rescued 54 people and there were “too many people on the boat.”
French authorities noted a marked increase in attempted crossings from the coast since Thursday during the onset of milder weather. British authorities said 755 people crossed the channel in small boats Thursday, the highest daily number this year.
The Channel between France and Britain is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, The Guardian reported. Small boat arrivals are down 15 per cent from the number at this point last year. As of Thursday, 15,826 had been detected in the year to date, compared to 18,600 at this time last year.
Last year, five migrants died and four were reported missing while attempting to cross from the northern coast of France. In November 2021, a boat carrying migrants sank, resulting in the deaths of 27 individuals.
The search and rescue operation Saturday involved both British and French vessels, triggered by a report from a patrol boat about a migrant vessel in distress near Sangatte. Three French ships, a helicopter, and a plane canvassed the area and two British ships participated in the search.
Borne also mentioned that Sea Minister Herv Berville is headed to the site to assist with the situation. The incident is under investigation by the Boulogne prosecutor's office.
(With PTI inputs.)
