The French coastguard has rescued more than 100 migrants attempting to cross the English Channel after their boat broke down. A total of 119 people were brought to safety during multiple rescue operations along France's northern coastline on Saturday, according to regional maritime officials.
Broken-down 'taxi boat' leads to major rescue
The vessel, described as a “taxi boat,” was spotted travelling east towards Wimereux to pick up passengers in the early hours of Sunday morning. It later broke down during its crossing attempt, leaving 106 migrants on board. They were transferred to a rescue ship and taken to Calais.
Several people encountered difficulties while boarding the boat. A woman lost consciousness and required evacuation by helicopter, the French coastguard reported.
Ongoing dangers of Channel crossings
A French Coast Guard spokesperson emphasised the perilous nature of the area, stating: “This maritime area is one of the busiest in the world, and weather conditions are often harsh (strong winds and currents, numerous sandbanks, and water temperatures that reduce life expectancy to just a few minutes in winter). It is therefore a particularly dangerous area, even when the sea looks calm.”
The rescues highlight the continued risks faced by migrants attempting the crossing in small boats. The latest incident comes shortly after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a three-year agreement with France on Thursday, committing £662 million to support beach patrols aimed at reducing arrivals.
Details of the UK-France deal
The Home Office stated that the arrangement would involve officers “targeting and detaining” migrants on the French coast, with the goal of preventing hundreds of small boat migrants from entering the water each year. Under the deal, the UK will provide £501 million to cover five police units and enforcement activities on French beaches. An additional £160 million will be paid only if new tactics to curb Channel crossings prove successful; otherwise, this extra funding will cease after one year.
However, ministers have declined to set specific targets to measure the deal's success.
Recent crossing statistics
So far this year, over 6,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel, a 36% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to government figures. More than 70,000 have arrived since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.
On Saturday, a group of over a dozen people, including women and children, were pictured being brought into the Border Security Command compound in Dover after being collected from the Channel.
