A 10-year-old child and two women died Monday morning during an illegal attempt to reach British shores from the coast of Wissant, near Calais. Preliminary investigations by the Pas-de-Calais prefecture suggest the deaths were caused by crowding and crushing aboard a vessel carrying more than 100 migrants.
The tragedy unfolded as a large group attempted to cross the English Channel, resulting in three fatalities and nine injuries.
Witnesses at the port reported seeing survivors wrapped in emergency blankets, with some individuals requiring wheelchairs during the evacuation process. While the immediate cause of death is linked to the congestion on board, a judicial investigation is now underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
Pas-de-Calais Prefecture and the Rising Death Toll
The scale of the tragedy may yet expand. In a statement regarding the operation, the Pas-de-Calais prefecture warned that the current count of victims is not final.
The casualty toll is not final, and it is likely to rise further, as rescue teams continue their work at sea.
This event brings the total number of migrants who have died by drowning while attempting to reach the United Kingdom this year to at least 22, including the victims of Monday’s crossing.
The Danger of Mega Boats and New Maritime Routes
Smugglers have increasingly turned to “Mega Boats” to transport larger numbers of people in a single journey. While these larger vessels allow for higher capacity, they introduce severe risks, particularly when battling strong sea currents that make steering a heavily loaded boat significantly more difficult.
- September: A boat carrying approximately 140 migrants was spotted departing from the Normandy coast.
- August: A vessel was recorded with more than 230 people on board.
- July: A boat carrying 165 migrants reached British shores.
Beyond the traditional departure points, new and more hazardous maritime routes are emerging. Authorities have recently detected multiple crossing attempts originating from the Lower Normandy region and the Dieppe area in the Seine-Maritime department.
