A two-year-old boy and three adults tragically lost their lives overnight after two migrant boats encountered difficulties while attempting the dangerous Channel crossing from France to England, French officials confirmed on Saturday.
These latest incidents bring the total number of migrant deaths in the Channel this year to 51, according to Jacques Billant, the prefect for Pas-de-Calais.
In one case, migrants raised an alarm on Saturday morning after their overcrowded dinghy, carrying nearly 90 people, experienced engine failure off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France. A two-year-old boy, born in Germany to a Somali mother, was found unresponsive on the boat and could not be saved, according to regional authorities. Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Guirec Le Bras stated that the child had been crushed in the overcrowded vessel.
Fourteen migrants, including a 17-year-old with severe leg burns, were rescued by French officials, though most of the passengers continued their perilous journey.
In a second incident, another boat carrying migrants suffered engine failure off the coast of Calais. During the panic, several people fell into the water, and rescue teams later discovered the bodies of two men and a woman, all aged around 30, at the bottom of the boat. The victims were identified as being of African and Vietnamese origin, and authorities believe they were crushed, suffocated, and drowned.
In response to these tragic events, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the human traffickers responsible for organising these dangerous crossings. Retailleau said the traffickers “have the blood of these people on their hands,” vowing that the government would intensify efforts to combat smuggling networks.
British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper also expressed her outrage, condemning the criminal smuggling gangs who organise these deadly crossings. “The gangs do not care if people live or die – this is a terrible trade in lives,” she said.
Both French and British officials noted the poor conditions of the inflatable boats used by migrants, highlighting the lack of life jackets and the traffickers’ ruthless methods, including separating young children from their parents.
Channel crossings by undocumented migrants have surged since 2018 despite repeated warnings of the risks. Strong currents, icy waters, and heavy maritime traffic make the journey especially dangerous. Recent favourable weather conditions have further accelerated the flow of migrants attempting the crossing, with police preventing 31 crossings and rescuing 237 people since Thursday, according to French authorities.
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the issue, acknowledging the challenge of fighting human trafficking networks but also stating that immigration itself was not necessarily a “bad” thing. Meanwhile, Utopia 56, a charity assisting migrants, called for a change in policy, urging authorities to prioritise humanitarian rescue operations and create safer passageways for migrants.