In a heartbreaking incident, five migrants lost their lives in the treacherous waters of the English Channel when a small boat capsized off the coast of Wimereux, in northern France. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning as approximately 70 people attempted to board the vessel from a beach.
The distressed boat quickly found itself in perilous waters, leading to a catastrophic overturn. The incident prompted an emergency response from local authorities and coastguard teams, resulting in a series of overnight rescue efforts near Wimereux, located to the south of Calais.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed his heartfelt sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, emphasizing the heart-wrenching nature of the incident.
According to information provided by local authorities, four of the victims hailed from Iraq and Syria. One individual remains in critical condition and has been transferred to a nearby hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
In total, 32 people were rescued from the harrowing situation, with one person sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
The crisis unfolded almost immediately after the boat departed from the French coast bound for England, occurring around 02:00am. A group of migrants had attempted to board the vessel as it left the beach, leading to their distress at sea, as reported by the French maritime prefecture.
A tugboat patrolling the coast arrived at the scene and discovered the bodies of the victims. The rescue operation saw the deployment of around 50 firefighters and several police vehicles, as detailed by the regional newspaper La Voix du Nord.
Survivors of the tragedy were transported to a local community centre, where they received medical attention and support.
Rescue efforts continued at approximately 05:00, involving multiple boats and a French Navy helicopter, as stated by La Voix du Nord.
The French coast guard confirmed the tragic deaths and reported the presence of a helicopter in the area. The UK Coastguard did not participate in the operation, as the incident occurred in French waters, near the beach close to Wimereux.
Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, emphasized the need for decisive action in response to these Channel deaths, including the provision of safe routes for those fleeing conflict-ridden nations.
This tragic incident follows a nearly four-week period up to January 11 when no recorded crossings to the UK were reported, mainly due to adverse weather conditions, according to the Home Office.
While the provisional total for crossings in 2023 stands at 29,437, a decrease from the record 45,774 recorded in 2022, it still ranks as the second-highest annual number of crossings on record.
The UK government’s Rwanda bill, aimed at deterring migrants from attempting small boat crossings, is currently under scrutiny, with Tory MPs urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to revive the legislation following a Supreme Court ruling against the earlier scheme.
Speaking on the matter, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of life and underscored the need to halt these Channel crossings, advocating for action against criminal gangs facilitating these perilous journeys.
In a separate development earlier this month, a French report claimed that the UK was not sharing sufficient information about small boats crossing the Channel, prompting concerns over intelligence sharing between the two nations.
