At least 12 migrants died on Tuesday off the northern French coast while attempting to cross the Channel to England, marking the deadliest disaster of its kind this year, according to the French government. The incident occurred when the boat encountered trouble near Wimereux, a town about 5 kilometers from Boulogne-sur-Mer on the French coast.
Frédéric Cuvillier, the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, reported that around 70 people were on board the vessel when it sank. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the death toll on X and noted that two migrants remain missing. A source close to the investigation confirmed that among the deceased were three minors.
Guirec Le Bras, the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor, stated that the victims were predominantly from Eritrea, including 10 females and two males, with half of them being minors.
The first responders were crew members from the French government-operated ship Minck, according to naval officer Etienne Baggio. French navy helicopters, fishing boats, and military vessels were soon mobilized for the rescue operation, which ultimately saved 53 people.
This tragedy is the deadliest migrant crossing incident of the year, which has already seen 25 deaths, up from 12 in 2023. Both French and British governments have been working to curtail the flow of migrants who pay smugglers thousands of euros for perilous journeys across the Channel.
UK Interior Minister Yvette Cooper described the deaths as “horrifying and deeply tragic” and condemned the “gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives,” emphasizing their disregard for human safety.
Earlier this summer, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to enhance cooperation to address the surge in undocumented migrants.
