At least Twelve people died in a shipwreck the boat in which they were trying to cross the English sleeve from France to the United Kingdom, according to sources from the region’s maritime prefecture.
The incident occurred in the Boulonnais region, in the Pas-de-Calais department (northern France), and the balance sheet is still provisionaladded the sources. Media reports from the region suggest that there may also be several seriously injured.
The prefecture stated in a press release that ten naval and air resources were dispatched after receiving an alert indicating the presence of a migrant boat in difficulty.
“More than fifty people were rescued“Several of them required emergency medical assistance” and search and rescue operations “are continuing,” the note added.
He also added that an emergency medical post had been set up in Boulogne sur Mer to treat the victims.
This accident is the deadliest so far this year among migrants trying to reach British shores from France by sea.
The Channel is one of the most active maritime sectors in the worldwith some 600 commercial vessels operating every day, in an area where weather conditions are often difficult, with strong winds making it particularly dangerous even when the waters appear calm.
Last year, In total, 29,437 people arrived on British soil. after crossing the Channel irregularly, 36% fewer than the record of 45,774 in 2022, according to official British figures.
