Two migrants have died attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat. The incident happened offshore between Calais and Dunkirk, in France, on Sunday morning, a French maritime official told the BBC. Some 53 migrants were rescued.
In a separate incident, several people onboard another boat suffered petrol burns, according to French maritime authorities. More than 50 migrants were rescued from the second small boat. French officials said 25 migrants have died attempting to cross the world’s busiest shipping lane this year. The British Coastguard confirmed it had provided support to the French Coastguard after sending a search and rescue unit and a UK Border Force vessel to assist.
Several boats carrying migrants launched from beaches in northern France on Sunday after a period of windy conditions. Fine weather in the morning prompted several groups to take to the water. Jacques Billant, prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, said during a news conference on Sunday afternoon that authorities launched a large rescue operation when a vessel got into difficulty.
The Gris-Nez Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre (CROSS) located the boat in an area where visibility had been reduced by fog. A British Coastguard vessel and several vessels from the French authorities picked up the people onboard the boat.
There were 55 migrants on the boat. Two people were unconscious when crews arrived at the scene and later died, while 53 were safely brought back to port in Calais, the French maritime authorities said. A UK government spokesperson confirmed the “tragic incident” had taken place and said it “underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings”.
“We continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected,” they said. The second incident involved 50 migrants, 36 of whom were rescued by the French vessel Minck. Fourteen others were rescued by another vessel.
Source: BBC
In other news – Prince William and Kate Middleton urged to step up their game amid new challenges
Prince William and Princess Kate have been warned they have an “awful lot of work to do” to prove themselves as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
According to James Evans, a member of the Welsh Senedd, the couple must step up their efforts to engage with Welsh life and politics. Read more
