At least 27 migrants drowned while trying to cross the English Channel this Wednesday, trying to reach the British island in an inflatable boat. The death toll is preliminary and was mentioned by the Mayor of Calais, France, Natasha Bouchard. According to the French maritime authorities, cited by Reuters, this is the worst migrant accident in the English Channel.
The mayor of Tetegem, France, told Reuters that search operations are still ongoing and that it is possible that other bodies will be found.
This Wednesday morning in Calais, Reuters saw a group of more than 40 migrants travel to the UK in a small boat. “I am deeply moved by the tragic deaths of several migrants as a result of a boat accident in the English Channel,” This was announced by the Minister of the Interior of France Gerall Darmen on Twitter.…
Darmaine added that the nationalities of the migrants are not yet known and that four people have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and involvement in the accident.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex lamented the deaths of “victims of criminal smugglers who used their suffering and suffering.” And the head of the British government, Boris Johnson, has already called his crisis office.
Fisherman Nicholas Margolle, interviewed by Reuters, said he spotted two small boats on Wednesday, one with people on board and the other empty. And he said another fisherman alerted rescuers when he saw an empty vessel and 15 bodies floating nearby. The same fisherman said there were more boats in the English Channel this Wednesday. because the weather conditions are favorable for crossingalthough the water is cold.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have pledged to take new measures to curb illegal migrants’ crossings across the English Channel. Claiming that he was “shocked, outraged and deeply saddened” by the latest sinking of the English Channel, Johnson said the British government “is having a hard time convincing some partners, especially the French, to get back on their feet.”
“But I understand the challenges all countries face,” Johnson said after the Downing Street crisis. “Now we want to do more together. This is what we offer, ”added the British Prime Minister, referring to cooperation with the French government. “This disaster underscores how dangerous it is to cross the English Channel in this way. It also shows how important it is to step up our efforts to disrupt the business model of smugglers who send people out to sea in this way, ”said Boris Johnson. “I tell our channel partners that it is time for all of us to mobilize, to work together to do everything we can to end this situation,” added the British leader.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country will not allow the English Channel “to turn into a cemetery.” The French head of state called for “an immediate strengthening of Frontex’s resources at the external borders of the European Union”, and also called for “an emergency meeting of European ministers with a portfolio of migration problems.” “The main culprits in this disgusting situation are the smugglers,” said the French Minister of the Interior, quoted by AFP. Gerald Darmanin also called for a “coordinated international response” to this tragedy “that affects everyone.”
The tragedy is the deadliest since the increase in migration crossings across the English Channel in 2018, given the increasing blockade of the port of Calais and the tunnel used by migrants to reach England so far. These the crossings are the subject of regular tension between Paris and London, according to the British authorities insufficient efforts on the French side to prevent the landing of migrants, despite the payment of financial assistance.
The UK Home Office said Monday that the number of migrants crossing the Channel since January was three times the number recorded for all of 2020. According to the UK government, 886 people arrived in the English Channel. British territory is just the last. Saturday, bringing the total since the beginning of the year to 25,700. In 2020, 8469 migrants arrived in the UK via the English Channel.
The news is updated at 23:30 with an adjustment to the total number of deaths and information on the arrest of four suspects.
