One person has died and 69 others were rescued after a migrant boat took on water near the French coast, while 240 migrants crossed the Channel on small boats.
The incident occurred near the Calais channel during the early hours of this morning, that saw multiple migrant boat departures reported in the area.
Only half of those aboard were wearing life jackets when rescue teams reached the vessel, according to the Prefecture of Pas-de-Calais.
The major rescue operation involved French naval assets and Belgian support teams working through the night to save the vessel’s occupants.
240 migrants successfully crossed the Channel
Only half of those aboard the capsized boat were wearing life jackets
Two unconscious victims required urgent medical attention, prompting additional support from a Belgian NH-90 rescue helicopter and its crew.
Rescuers successfully revived one of the unconscious casualties on scene.
The second victim was airlifted to hospital in Marck-en-Calaisis, where they were later pronounced dead.
The remaining survivors were brought to Calais, where they received care from emergency services coordinating with the Prefecture of Pas-de-Calais.
The maritime prefect of the English Channel and North Sea warned of the extreme dangers in this heavily trafficked waterway.
UK border escorted 240 migrants to Britain
More than 600 merchant ships transit through the strait daily, creating hazardous conditions for small vessels.
Weather conditions in the area are particularly challenging, with an average of 120 days per year experiencing winds of force 7 or stronger.
“This is therefore a particularly dangerous sector, especially in the middle of the winter period for precarious and overloaded boats,” the maritime prefect stated.
The prefect emphasised the critical importance of wearing life jackets for all maritime activities in the region.
