At least 12 people have died and two remain missing after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel on Tuesday, according to the French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin. The vessel, carrying nearly a hundred migrants, overturned off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer shortly after setting course for the United Kingdom. Coast guard rescue teams pulled at least 50 survivors from the water and established a medical aid post to treat the injured, with some in critical condition as rescue operations continue to search for those unaccounted for.
“All government services are mobilized to locate the missing and care for the victims,” Darmanin stated in a message posted on the social network X. French naval helicopters, fishing boats, and Army vessels are taking part in the rescue efforts, according to sources cited by AFP, while central government and local authorities are sending representatives to the scene to assess the situation. Darmanin said he would meet elected officials and emergency services and that plans are in motion for his visit to the area later in the day.
Llegadas irregulares
The disaster on Tuesday marks the deadliest horizonal crossing in the Channel so far this year. Since January, more than 20,000 people have attempted to reach the United Kingdom by this route, which is notorious for dangerous conditions caused by strong winds and heavy maritime traffic. The surge in irregular crossings typically climbs when weather and sea conditions are favorable, though the dangers posed by overcrowded, makeshift vessels remain a constant risk. Early indications point to a breach in the hull as the cause of the sinking, a detail reported by Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of Le Portel, to Associated Press.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has placed the fight against organized crime at the center of his migration policy, aiming to curb irregular arrivals in the United Kingdom. He discussed the issue last week with French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Paris. Starmer seeks greater coordination with European Union partners on security and intelligence to dismantle criminal networks and plans to strengthen border control through the creation of a Border Security Command.