In total, 11 boats attempted the dangerous crossing, with 703 migrants on board, the Home Office said, a record number since Labor came to power in early July.
Early yesterday, a boat reported being in distress “with people in the water” according to French authorities and 53 migrants were rescued.
Two others, however, did not manage to regain consciousness: one was pronounced dead at the port of Calais, the other in hospital.
For the whole week, 1,172 people crossed the Channel to try to reach British authorities, bringing the total for August to 1,439.
Crossing the English Channel in makeshift boats is a very common occurrence in the summer, and tragedies have been in succession off the French coast in recent weeks.
Yesterday morning’s wreck brings to nine the number of people who have died aboard these ships in a month and to 25 since the start of 2024, far surpassing the 2023 tally of 12.
According to an AFP tally based on figures from British authorities, 18,342 people have made the crossing since the start of the year in “small boats”, a figure up 13% on the corresponding period last year.
New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office in early July, abandoned a controversial plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, which the Conservatives promoted in 2022 to discourage arrivals but which was never implemented.
Instead, Starmer announced he wanted to speed up the processing of asylum-seeker files, toughening the fight against smugglers to “strengthen the border”.
Beloved couple gets married – The spectacular marriage proposal at a surprise party in Sifnos
Fire in Attica: New Penteli, Old Penteli, Patima Chalandriou, Patima Vrilissio are evacuated
Athina Economakou: How much does a night cost in August at the hotel she stays in Crete – The suite with the private pool, spa and gym
#migrants #crossed #Channel
