At least eight migrants bound for the UK drowned today in the most recent small boat disaster in the English Channel.
French emergency services received a Mayday call from a dinghy in distress off the coast of Ambleteuse, near Calais, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
‘Several migrants lost their lives,’ stated Jacques Billant, the Pas de Calais prefect, who provisionally estimated the death toll at eight.
“An inflatable boat carrying approximately 50 individuals ran aground,” Mr. Billant continued, noting that the eight unidentified migrants were pronounced dead at the scene.
This incident follows a period in which French authorities rescued around 200 people off the coast of Calais between Friday and Saturday night.
One boat carrying migrants was located off the coast of Le Portel, resulting in 55 rescues. Additionally, 61 migrants were saved off the coast of La Becque d’Hardelot, 48 were rescued near a lighthouse, and 36 others were recovered.
All those rescued were brought back to shore, according to French authorities.
This tragedy follows the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including a pregnant woman and six children, less than two weeks ago when their frail dinghy broke apart in the same region.
The recent fatalities bring the total number of deaths in Channel crossings this year to at least 45, compared to 12 for the entire year of 2023. The deadliest previous incident occurred in November 2021, when 27 people perished after their inflatable dinghy capsized.
