During the sinking of a migrant boat in the Channel last night, one person died. Additionally, 61 migrants were rescued from the water, according to a press release from the French maritime authority overseeing the Channel.
French authorities received a report of a migrant boat departing for the United Kingdom during the night. The boat was overcrowded and soon encountered problems, leading to it breaking apart and sinking.
Multiple speedboats were deployed to quickly rescue people from the water. For one woman, help came too late: she was found unconscious in the water and was declared dead upon arrival on a French rescue ship.
A mother and child with symptoms of hypothermia were airlifted to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer. The British coastguard also assisted in rescuing the migrants.
The French maritime authority warns of the dangers of crossing the Channel: it is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and the weather is often unfavorable, with an average of 120 days per year with wind force seven or higher. "It is an exceptionally dangerous sector of the North Sea, even when the sea appears calm."
Despite this, increasing numbers of migrants are attempting the crossing, often in overcrowded and undersized boats. British media report that at least ten migrants have died this year attempting to reach the UK from France.
According to figures from the UK Home Office, at least 12,000 people have crossed the Channel since the beginning of this year. This number is over 40% higher than a year ago.
Since 2018, crossing numbers have been recorded, and never before have so many migrants attempted the crossing in small boats during the first four months of the year. UK Prime Minister Starmer has vowed to combat human smuggling gangs, stating that the issue should be labeled as terrorism and addressed internationally.