BOULOGNE-SUR-MER: At least 10 migrants died on Tuesday attempting to cross the Channel from France to England, marking the deadliest disaster of the year in the perilous migrant journey. The tragedy occurred off the northern French coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer, with reports indicating that the death toll may rise.
Emergency services were immediately mobilized. The French maritime authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least 10 migrants, while a source close to the investigation revealed that the number could be as high as 13, including three minors.
French navy helicopters, fishing boats, and military vessels have been dispatched to assist in the rescue operation, with the French government-operated ship Minck being the first to respond to the emergency. Naval officer Etienne Baggio described the scene, noting the critical state of many survivors.
This disaster represents the deadliest migrant crossing incident of the year, which has already seen 25 fatalities, a significant increase from the 12 deaths recorded in 2023.
Efforts to curb the flow of migrants have been a contentious issue for years. Both the French and British governments have struggled to address the surge in undocumented crossings, with migrants paying thousands of euros to smugglers for dangerous voyages in small, overcrowded boats.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron had pledged earlier this summer to enhance cooperation on managing the migrant surge. However, on Monday alone, 351 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, bringing the total number of crossings for the year to 21,615, according to UK government statistics.
The crossing has proven treacherous, with the most deadly previous incident occurring in November 2021 when 27 migrants perished when their boat capsized. Despite French efforts to prevent migrants from setting sail, authorities only intervene for rescue operations once the boats are in the water, citing safety concerns.
Starmer has cancelled a plan by Britain’s former Conservative government to send irregular migrants to a holding camp in Rwanda.
