AMBLETEUSE: Eight migrants have died and six others have been hospitalized following a tragic incident on Sunday when their overcrowded vessel capsized while attempting to cross the Channel from France to England, French authorities reported.
The boat, which had set off from the Slack River near the towns of Wimereux and Ambleteuse, was overloaded with 59 persons from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran. The incident occurred around 1:00 am local time (23:00 GMT on Saturday), when the dinghy, which had only one lifejacket among its passengers, encountered difficulties and ran aground on rocks before being torn apart.
Regional prefect Jacques Billant confirmed that the fatalities were all men, and that among the survivors, a 10-month-old baby was found suffering from hypothermia. The survivors were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Christel Leclair, a volunteer with a local charity, described the dire conditions faced by migrants, noting that overcrowded boats often lack basic safety equipment. “There are children, pregnant women, and tiny babies. We’re deeply saddened and deflated by the ongoing tragedy,” she said.
The Auberge des Migrants charity has called for an urgent reassessment of both French and British migration policies, highlighting the inadequacy of current measures to address the crisis. Despite efforts by French authorities to dismantle people smuggling networks and arrest traffickers, the perilous crossings continue unabated.
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This year alone, French authorities have dismantled 20 smuggling networks and arrested 77 persons, with 59 of them facing court proceedings.
Charlotte Kwantes from the Utopia 56 charity emphasized that without sufficient legal migration options, the dangerous crossings will persist. “People will continue to take these risks as long as there are no viable alternatives,” she said.
The latest tragedy follows a similar disaster on September 3, when at least 12 migrants, including six minors, died in a boat capsizing off the northern French coast. Survivors of that incident, including Biniam Semay, 34, who lost his 18-year-old sister, and another survivor named Amanuel, recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing the deaths of fellow passengers.
The surge in Channel crossings has seen over 22,000 migrants arrive in England since the beginning of the year. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron had pledged to enhance cooperation on managing this crisis, but the continuing loss of life indicates a need for more effective measures.
French maritime authorities have reported numerous attempts to cross the Channel in recent days, with 200 people rescued within a 24-hour period over Friday and Saturday. French policies currently focus on preventing migrants from setting out, but once at sea, authorities are limited to rescue operations due to safety concerns.
