Twelve people, including six children and a pregnant woman, tragically lost their lives after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the English Channel. The overloaded vessel, which sank off the coast of Cape Gris-Nez near Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, was carrying dozens of individuals, the French coastguard has confirmed.
According to the local prosecutor’s office, of the twelve victims, ten were female and two were male. While rescue operations managed to save more than 50 people, two of the survivors are currently in critical condition. The boat’s condition is believed to have contributed significantly to the disaster, with the hull reportedly ripping open due to the weight of the passengers. Additionally, fewer than eight of those on board were wearing life jackets, a factor which may have worsened the loss of life.
The incident represents the deadliest crossing this year and has reignited debate on how to address the perilous migrant journeys across the Channel. Initial reports suggest the involvement of a Syrian smuggler in facilitating this particular crossing, although further investigations are still ongoing. Local prosecutor Guirec Le Bras has said the majority of the victims were believed to be of Eritrean origin, but the exact nationalities of all involved have not yet been confirmed.
The latest tragedy follows a worrying trend of increasing migrant deaths in the English Channel. So far in 2024, 30 people had died making the crossing, a figure now raised by Tuesday’s disaster. This makes 2024 the deadliest year for Channel crossings since 2021, when 45 people lost their lives.
The Channel, known for its treacherous waters, has seen a rise in dangerous crossings over recent years. Since 2018, more than 135,000 people have attempted to cross from France to the UK. In 2023 alone, over 21,000 people have made the journey, although this is lower than the peak of 45,755 recorded in 2022. French authorities claim to be preventing around 60% of attempted crossings, but smugglers have responded by overloading boats, contributing to deadlier outcomes.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has called for more
cooperation between the UK and the European Union to address the issue, advocating for a formal treaty on migration. He highlighted the dangers posed by smugglers, who are now cramming up to 70 people into vessels designed for 30 to 40 passengers.
In response, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the loss of life as “horrifying and deeply tragic”. She emphasised the importance of tackling the criminal gangs responsible for facilitating these dangerous journeys and urged swift action to strengthen border security. Cooper said, “The gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives have been cramming more and more people on to increasingly unseaworthy dinghies, and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather.”
In the aftermath, several rescue services were mobilised, including helicopters, navy vessels, and local fishing boats, as part of a coordinated rescue effort by the French coastguard.
While both the current Labour government and the previous Conservative administration have committed to addressing the issue of illegal crossings, critics have argued that more needs to be done to provide safe routes for asylum seekers. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has taken a strong stance, vowing to “smash” the smuggling rings. Downing Street has also pointed to efforts such as increasing the number of National Crime Agency officers and establishing a new Border Security Command.
However, organisations like Amnesty International UK have raised concerns over the government’s approach. On Tuesday, the human rights organisation stated, “No amount of ‘smash the gangs’ policing and Government rhetoric is going to stop these disasters from unfolding time and again if the needs of people exploited by those gangs remain unaddressed.”
The growing number of deaths continues to spotlight the desperation of those fleeing conflict and poverty, and the dangerous methods employed by people smugglers. Whether the current strategies will be enough to prevent further tragedies remains to be seen.