PARIS: French authorities reported on Friday that four immigrants died, trying to pass through the English Channel from France to England in a rubber boat. On the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in northern France, this vessel sank and punctured. According to a statement by the prefecture responsible for the region, 63 individuals were rescued by the French coastguard.
The overpopulated marine vessel was seen deflating near French shores by a French navy patrol boat early on Friday morning. The broken rubber dingy had some “drifting” people while others clung to it.
Joining in the effort were Navy ships and a fishing boat as well as Navy helicopters. Survivors were taken ashore at Boulogne where they received medical help and temporary housing also added.
Most of them do so aboard packed with people that are not fit for sailing into unceasingly busy English Channel waters, risking their lives.
Last month small boat attempting to cross the English Channel from France had difficulty before being saved by British authorities who helped out eighty migrants stranded at sea.
According to Home Office estimates more than 10k is now at risk this year; up 42%, compared with last year’s figure at this point of time and by 8% higher than that of 2022.
On UK government provided statistics from across 2023 it is thought an estimated thirty thousand individuals made such journeys.
