New tragedy looms: English channel crossings persist despite danger

Tragic attempts to cross the English Channel continue. Just a day after the death of 12 migrants during a failed attempt to cross from northern France to the United Kingdom, another group undertook a similar risk. Witnesses spotted another inflatable boat with migrants on the beach in Wimereux, near the site of the earlier tragedy, setting out on the perilous journey across the channel.

The news of the new attempt to cross the channel emerged just hours after details of Tuesday's tragedy were revealed. The French coast guard confirmed that out of roughly 65 people on the boat, 12 died. The rescue operation saved 51 people, and two are still being sought.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the incident as a "horrific maritime disaster". In his post on platform X, he noted that dozens of migrants, mostly from Eritrea, were on a small boat measuring less than 7 metres in length.

"I came to Boulogne-sur-Mer to meet and thank the emergency services, the police and the sailors who were able to save 51 people from drowning," said Darmanin, also emphasizing that these boats sink very quickly, making the risk of death in such crossings enormous.

Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, explained that the bottom of the boat "was torn apart," and all the passengers fell into the water. Most did not have life jackets, further complicating the rescue operation. Several migrants required immediate medical attention.

A day after the tragedy, more people took the risk, setting out from northern France towards the United Kingdom. Journalists on the beach recorded these scenes in Wimereux, close to the site of Tuesday's catastrophe. The shocking footage illustrates the immense determination of the migrants despite the dangers that lie ahead.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, noted that the number of deaths in the English Channel this year is "shockingly high." He expressed his belief that "law enforcement alone is not a sufficient solution" and called for opening more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.

This year, the death toll during attempts to cross the English Channel has exceeded 30. According to the International Organization for Migration, since January 2023, at least 226 people, including 35 children, have gone missing or died attempting to reach the United Kingdom.

Concerns about the activities of smugglers are growing, especially regarding their efforts to place an increasing number of migrants on small and low-quality boats, which increases the risk of tragedy.

The tragedy that occurred on Tuesday has again drawn public attention to the dire situation of migrants and the challenges associated with managing the migrant crisis. Each day, pressure on the governments of the United Kingdom and France is mounting to implement more effective solutions to prevent further tragedies in the English Channel.