5 migrants died crossing the Channel, a toll that could rise

This Tuesday morning, at least five migrants lost their lives during an attempt to cross the Channel off Wimereux beach. Research is still ongoing.

This Tuesday morning, the search is still underway à Wimereux, in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, after several attempts by migrants to cross the Channel. According to an initial report from the prefecture, at least five people died: three men, a woman and a child. According to La Voix du Nord, several boats had put to sea à dawn from the German beach of Wimereux to reach England, wishing to take advantage of the relatively calm sailing conditions.

If the boat ran aground the first time on a sandbank, it set sail again. "A crowd movement would be “occurred in the overloaded boat, causing several victims,” ​​explained the prefecture. The 4-year-old child would have died after being crushed by other passengers. ;eacute;té opened with the public prosecutor's office in Boulogne-sur-Mer. 

Relief operations were carried out. implemented and continuing. Rescuers are still looking for a boat. According to the mayor of Wimereux, from BFM Grand Littoral, 48 people were rescued on the tugboat Abeille Flandre. Search conditions were difficult this morning with temperatures around 0 degrees. in the air and less than 10 degrees in the water. The town beach has been renovated. closed.

A second drama in a few months

The migrant aid association Osmose 62 is also on site. Dany Patoux,   one of the volunteers said: &agrav; France 3 the return of certain rescued shipwreck survivors, including the father who lost his daughter. "The little girl, we knew her well. We have photos with her, with a big smile in the hope of a better life. But there, everything is ruined. The father has fallen to us; in arms all &agrav; time. He is crying, in a daze. He saw his little daughter die before his eyes",  he described. 

This is the second tragedy of this kind to occur around Wimereux. On the night of January 13 to 14, five migrants died à Wimereux as they tried to reach a boat already there. at sea. In 2023, 35,800 migrants were sent to sea. rescued while trying to cross the Channel. 30 deaths were reported. recorded as well as 11 disappearances at sea. Since the start of the year, the number of crossings has exploded compared to the previous year. last year. In the first quarter of 2024, 4,600 exiles managed to achieve their goals. cross the Channel, according to the British authorities. This represents an increase of 23% over the period compared to 2023.