Ninety-four migrants rescued after boat sinks off Dunkirk
French maritime authorities rescued 94 migrants off the coast of Dunkirk on Thursday morning after their small boat broke apart while attempting to cross the English Channel. The operation was coordinated by the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Prémar).
According to the Cross Gris-Nez, the regional surveillance and rescue center, multiple boats left the French coast early Thursday in an attempt to reach the United Kingdom. Around 9:20 a.m., one vessel disintegrated a few kilometers from the shore, throwing all its passengers into the cold waters of the Channel.
An emergency “Mayday Relay” message was broadcast to all nearby vessels, and several rescue teams were deployed. The Minck, a state-chartered rescue ship, arrived quickly at the scene, supported by other units and a British aircraft provided by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Dover.
All 94 people were safely brought aboard, though three suffered from hypothermia and were given immediate medical attention. The survivors were later transported to Dunkirk, where they were taken care of by state services.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing migrant crisis in the Channel, where at least 27 people have died this year attempting the perilous crossing from France to the UK. Despite increased patrols and cooperation between the two countries, migrants continue to risk their lives in fragile, overcrowded boats in search of safety or better living conditions.
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