PARIS (AP) – A tragic incident occurred over the weekend when a small boat carrying migrants attempting to cross the English Channel ran aground on a northern French beach. According to authorities, two women lost their lives, and 16 others sustained injuries, with three in critical condition due to severe burns.
The frail vessel, which was carrying a total of 82 individuals, departed from Hardelot beach, located just a few kilometers south of Boulogne-sur-Mer. However, complications arose when the engine failed, leading to the vessel drifting off course. Christophe Marx, the secretary-general of the Pas-de-Calais prefecture, provided details during a press conference. A French maritime gendarmerie vessel managed to rescue 17 individuals and transport them safely to Boulogne-sur-Mer, while the makeshift boat remained aground with the remaining 65 passengers onboard.
The two deceased women, reportedly in their 20s and believed to be from Sudan, are thought to have succumbed to suffocation. Marx noted the unfortunate circumstances surrounding their deaths, suggesting they may have been "crushed or asphyxiated" due to the overcrowded conditions typical in such crossings. An investigation into the incident has been initiated, and urgent care was provided to the injured, particularly those suffering from burns caused by fuel accumulation in the bottom of the boat.
This incident marks the third deadly occurrence involving migrants attempting to make the perilous journey to the United Kingdom in just over a month. Previous tragic events included the deaths of two men and two women last month while they were trying to board an inflatable boat off the northern French coast. In that case, British authorities arrested a man from Sudan, suspecting him of endangering lives. Additionally, the week before, two other fatalities occurred under similar circumstances near Calais.
In light of the growing number of perilous crossings, the U.K. and French governments recently signed a new multimillion-euro agreement aimed at curbing the influx of migrants traversing the English Channel. This deal includes increasing police patrols and implementing enhanced surveillance in northern France, reflecting both governments' commitment to tackle the rising issue of illegal crossings.
As of this year, over 6,000 migrants have successfully reached the U.K. after crossing the Channel, indicating a notable decrease of 36% compared to the same period last year. Experts suggest that this drop in numbers may be partly due to unfavorable weather conditions that have affected crossing attempts. Notably, prior to the recent fatalities, the migrant aid organization Utopia 56 reported that at least 172 individuals have died at the French-U.K. border over the past three years, with 123 of those deaths occurring at sea.
