A boat carrying migrants from northern France in order to reach Britain capsized in the English Channel, leading to the death of 12 people, including women and children.
Around 70 people were onboard the vessel and fewer than eight had life jackets. The victims included a pregnant woman and mostly women, whose age fell under 18. The emergency crew has been able to rescue 53 of them, reported CNN.
Several of those rescued in the operation are said to be in critical condition and required urgent medical assistance. Three helicopters, two fishing vessels and two boats have been deployed to find the missing persons and aid the rescue operations.
A view of one of the vessels from the French Gendarmerie Nationale in the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, after participating in the rescue operation after a boat carrying migrants ripped apart attempting to cross the English Channel. (AP Photo)
“Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open, if people don’t know how to swim in the agitated waters…it can go very quickly,” said Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near Boulogne-sur-Mer as quoted by news agency Associated Press.
Guirec Le Bras, the city’s prosecutor, detailed the origins of the deceased and said that they were “primarily of Eritrean origin” but “officials do not have consolidated details that would allow us to specify the exact nationalities,” as reported by BBC.
The latest capsizing incident is adding to the list of similar incidents which have happened in the English Channel where migrants attempt to reach Britain but have drowned and died. However, the latest casualties is one of the biggest this year.
According to CNN, the maritime prefecture said, “This maritime sector is one of the busiest areas in the world, with more than 600 merchant ships passing through it every day and the weather conditions are often difficult, so it is a particularly dangerous sector, even when the sea seems calm.”
