Channel crossing: at least one migrant dead and 400 rescued at sea
Migrants attempting to cross the Channel (illustrative image).
Sameer Al-DOUMY AFP / File
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
As rescue operations increase in the English Channel, a migrant has been found dead, another is missing and 400 were rescued Wednesday, November 3 after the sinking of several boats trying to reach the United Kingdom from France.
Advertising
Read more
"
A migrant
was found dead around 7am near a boat on a beach in Wissant,
" a source close to the investigation told AFP.
Two others were taken to hospital because they were "
in a state of severe hypothermia
".
This Thursday, November 4, there is still a missing person.
An investigation for "manslaughter" was opened and entrusted to the border police.
The deceased "
is a priori an adult, we are talking about someone in their thirties
".
Crossing attempts on the increase
In total, "
more than 400 people
" were rescued Wednesday, November 3 after the sinking of several boats off the French coast, added the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Premar) in a press release.
Several ships of the French Navy, stars of the gendarmerie and two helicopters were mobilized for the operation.
For several years, crossings of the Channel by migrants wishing to reach the United Kingdom
have been increasing.
According to maritime prefect Philippe Dutrieux, some 15,400 migrants attempted the crossing between January 1 and August 31.
In 2020, crossings and attempted crossings concerned some 9,500 people, compared to 2,300 in 2019 and 600 in 2018.
► See also: The United Kingdom facing a record number of Channel crossings by migrants
(with AFP)
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
UK
International Migration