At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel early Tuesday morning, according to French media reports. The French coastguard managed to rescue over 50 individuals from the water in response to the tragic event.
Emergency services acted swiftly to address the crisis by establishing a temporary medical station at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, approximately 28 miles southwest of Calais. Several survivors were given urgent medical treatment at the scene. The French maritime prefecture has deployed helicopters and boats to continue the search for any remaining survivors in the Channel.
Regional newspaper La Voix du Nord has confirmed the death toll of 10 people, with additional individuals reported to be in critical condition. Initial estimates from France 3 suggested that the boat may have carried at least 100 migrants, though this figure has not been officially confirmed. The presence of white tarpaulins on the quay highlighted the severity of the situation.
On the same day, a separate incident involved an RNLI lifeboat arriving in Dover with suspected migrants onboard. While this operation was unrelated to the capsizing, it underscores the ongoing challenges of migrant crossings in the English Channel.
France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin is expected to visit Pas-de-Calais later in the day to oversee the situation and coordinate further response efforts. His visit aims to address the immediate needs resulting from this tragic event and to bolster ongoing efforts to manage migrant crossings in the region.