NOS News•yesterday, 09:45•Amended yesterday, 1:41 PM
At least five migrants, including a 7-year-old girl, have died on the Channel between France and Britain. Local authorities report this. The migrants tried to cross last night near Wimereux, a town on the Opal Coast.
French emergency services picked up 47 people during their attempt to cross the Channel, local official Jacques Billant told reporters. Four of the 47 people rescued were taken to a hospital. They are out of danger, Billant said.
He added that more than 50 of the 112 people on board remained on board to continue their journey to Britain. “They managed to restart the engine and decided to continue their journey towards Britain,” Billant said.
Stayed half on the boat
Earlier, local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that about 100 migrants had been picked up by a French navy tugboat.
Rescue services say it is not yet clear how many boats carrying migrants made the crossing from France to Great Britain last night.
The BBC reports that a British customs ship has brought about 70 migrants to Dover. Another customs ship is currently bringing a second group to Dover, the British broadcaster reports.
Images of a British boat with people wearing life jackets:
Five migrants died on Channel, dozens rescued
Weather conditions in the Channel are currently very calm. In such weather, the British coast guard expects many boats with migrants. The boats are often overcrowded and can be swamped by waves.
It is not the first time that migrants trying to cross have died in the region. In January, five migrants died near a beach in Wimereux. According to French maritime authorities, more than 70 migrants tried to climb aboard a boat off the coast of the seaside resort south of Calais. They also wanted to cross over to England.
Rwanda law
To deter migrants from making the illegal journey to England, the UK has passed the controversial Rwanda law. The country wants to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda by plane. Rwanda has been declared a safe country with this legislation, in order to prevent legal objections to deportations.
British Home Secretary Cleverly writes on X that “these tragedies must stop”, referring to the situation in Wimereux. “This government is doing everything it can to break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs so that they no longer endanger lives,” he said.
