An unspecified number of migrants died in two separate incidents while attempting to cross the English Channel off the French coast, including a two-year-old child who was tragically trampled. According to La Voix du Nord, three migrants lost their lives near Calais, while another died near Boulogne. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
“Several people have died,” French Foreign Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X, adding, “The blood of these victims is on the hands of human traffickers. Our government will step up efforts to combat the criminal networks profiting from these deadly crossings.” French Prime Minister Michel Barnier echoed the call for stronger measures, stating that “the country needs a tougher immigration policy” and vowing to take a hardline stance against human traffickers.
On the other side of the channel, Britain’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the incident appalling. “Criminal gangs don’t care if people live or die – this is a terrible trade in lives,” Cooper said on the X platform.
According to French authorities, a rubber boat carrying 90 migrants sank near the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, prompting a distress call. Rescue teams discovered a deceased child who had been crushed underfoot. Regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras reported, “The child was crushed to death.”
French authorities announced the arrest of 14 illegal immigrants, including a 17-year-old who was hospitalized with burns on his legs. The other passengers were able to complete their journey. According to the authorities, the French navy aims to prevent individuals from entering the water and only intervenes for rescue purposes once they have done so.
In a separate incident, panic erupted among migrants on a disabled boat near the coast of Calais, prompting rescue teams to recover several individuals who had fallen into the water.
Britain and the G7 have reached an agreement on a new plan to combat smuggling operations. Under this plan, countries will collaborate on joint investigations and share intelligence on smuggling routes. The agreement also includes working with social media companies to monitor online activity and prevent smugglers from exploiting the internet for their operations.
A spokesperson for the British Home Office stated, “We all want to put an end to the dangerous small boat crossings that threaten lives and undermine the security of our borders.” The spokesperson highlighted several recent tragic incidents in the Channel and emphasized that authorities are actively working to dismantle smuggling operations and hold the perpetrators accountable.
