A record 230 people have crossed the English Channel aboard a single overcrowded small boat after French rescuers warned of the risk of a mass-casualty incident. The 49ft inflatable reached Dover at around 2.30am on Monday (10 August) after collecting people at several points along the French coast. The number aboard is reported to have smashed the previous record of 165 people carried by a single small boat. French rescue organisation SNSM described the figure as a “new and sad record”. The vessel reportedly had around 50 people aboard when it was being monitored off the French coast on Sunday afternoon. However, near Berck-sur-Mer and Merlimont, around 150 more people – including women and children – reportedly emerged from dunes and attempted to board.
People ended up in water during boarding
The situation became increasingly dangerous as the inflatable became heavily overloaded. French rescuers reported that around 30 people ended up in the water during the boarding operation, while the vessel continued its journey. Emergency teams, including firefighters and gendarmes, were deployed as rescuers worked to prevent a potentially major loss of life. By the time the boat headed further into the Channel, 230 people were reportedly aboard, including more than 20 children. French rescue crews remained in contact with the vessel, with reports at one stage that it was taking on waves. It eventually continued across the Channel before arriving in Dover during the early hours. The 230 people were among 423 people reported to have crossed the Channel in five boats on Sunday.
Government says crossings are down
The incident has renewed political arguments over the Government’s attempts to tackle small-boat crossings and the tactics being used by people-smuggling gangs. The Home Office said the incident demonstrated the dangers posed by increasingly overcrowded vessels. A spokesperson said: “This latest incident demonstrates the reckless and dangerous tactics employed by the criminal gangs facilitating these crossings, who continue to put lives at risk by cramming ever greater numbers of people on to unseaworthy vessels.” Government sources said that despite the exceptional number of people aboard this vessel, overall crossings have fallen compared with last year. Opposition politicians have criticised the response to the crossings and questioned why such a heavily overcrowded vessel was able to leave French waters.
Originally published by UKNIP.
