At Least 8 People Die Attempting to Cross the English Channel, Say French Officials

NICE, France (AP) — A tragic incident occurred during a failed attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people, according to French maritime authorities. This distressing event took place just before midnight on Saturday, as authorities identified a boat in trouble near a beach located in the northern town of Ambleteuse.

Responding promptly, a French rescue ship was dispatched to the scene, where rescue services provided immediate medical assistance to 53 migrants found on the beach. A statement from the French maritime authorities responsible for the Channel and the North Sea confirmed that, despite the emergency care rendered, eight individuals lost their lives.

Search efforts at sea yielded no further discoveries of persons in distress. Authorities reported that six individuals were taken to a hospital in serious condition, including a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia. Jacques Billant, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, informed French media that the survivors hail from several countries, including Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran.

The survivors have been accommodated in the sports hall in Ambleteuse, as stated by the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais region. Furthermore, the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into the incident.

This tragic episode occurred nearly two weeks after another boat carrying migrants met a catastrophic fate in the English Channel. That earlier incident resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, underscoring the ongoing peril faced by those attempting to make the perilous journey to Britain from northern France.

British officials expressed their condolences regarding this latest loss of life. “It’s awful,” said Foreign Secretary David Lammy during an interview with the BBC. He lamented the continued dangers associated with the crossing.

In response to the growing crisis, the newly elected Labour Party government in the United Kingdom has vowed to take action against the criminal gangs exploiting the channel routes. Discussions have been held with European partners on ways to combat these gangs, emphasizing cooperation in addressing the issue upstream.

Additionally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to engage in talks in Italy with his counterpart Giorgia Meloni about her initiatives to address the problem and their collaboration, particularly involving Albania.

Starmer is reportedly interested in a new policy allowing Albania to accept asylum seekers on Italy’s behalf while their claims undergo processing.

On the same day as the tragic incident, French coast guard and navy vessels rescued approximately 200 individuals from the dangerous waters of the Pas-de-Calais area. French maritime authorities observed a total of 18 attempts to depart by boat from France to Britain.

Before the recent tragedy, at least 43 migrants had either died or gone missing while trying to make the crossing to the United Kingdom this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. Previous incidents included the deaths of four migrants in July after their inflatable boat capsized and punctured, and five others, including a child, who perished in another dangerous crossing attempt in April.

Moreover, five individuals were found dead after a migrant boat experienced difficulties in the treacherous conditions of January’s dark and cold winter nights, further illustrating the desperate circumstances faced by many individuals attempting to traverse the Channel.

This latest tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with such perilous crossings, and the urgent need for cooperative efforts to address the underlying issues driving migration.