CALAIS: Four migrants died overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France to the UK, the French maritime authority reported on Sunday. The perilous journey took a shocking turn near the resort town of Wimereux, plunging the group into freezing waters at approximately 2 am (0100 GMT).
The French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie, intervened in a rescue operation, recovering “unconscious and lifeless people” in the water, according to the maritime prefecture. The survivors, totaling around 70, including small children, were immediately transported to Calais.
“We have four dead migrants and one migrant in critical condition at the hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer,” stated a spokesperson for the maritime prefecture.
Sources revealed that among the survivors were entire families, including very young children. Some survivors expressed their intention to reach the Dunkirk train station to access an accommodation center in Armentieres.
Jean-Claude Lenoir, head of the Salam association, highlighted the risks migrants take when attempting to board larger vessels in such adverse weather conditions. “Migrants want to get on board at all costs. They quickly fall victim to hypothermia or drowning,” he warned.
The Influx of Migrants into Europe
This tragedy marks the first reported migrant deaths in the Channel for the year 2024. The region around Calais has long been a focal point for migrants, with many hoping to make the dangerous crossing to England either hidden in trucks or aboard small boats.
The issue of migrant crossings has been a contentious matter between the British and French governments. Boats carrying migrants have been a political priority in the UK, while French authorities emphasize the increasing overloading of these vessels.
In 2023, nearly 30,000 migrants successfully crossed the Channel from mainland Europe to Britain in small boats, according to the British government, representing a drop of more than a third from the previous year. However, the dangers continued, as shown by the tragic incidents in December 2023 and now in January 2024.
