Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Europe.
Engine Failures and Overcrowding Lead to Deadly Stampede
Four people, including a two year old boy, tragically lost their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel, according to French authorities. The victims were found unconscious on two separate boats, both of which experienced engine failures, resulting in overcrowding and chaos.
Fatal Crossing Attempts
French rescue teams were called to two separate incidents overnight. In one case, a boat carrying nearly 90 people was stranded off the coast of Boulogne Sur Mer in northern France after an engine failure. Among those rescued was a two year old boy, who tragically could not be saved. French officials reported that the boy, born to a Somali mother in Germany, was "trampled to death" in the chaos onboard.
In the second incident, off the coast of Calais, three adults a woman and two men were found unconscious in an overcrowded boat. They too were believed to have been trampled during a stampede triggered by engine failure. All victims were around 30 years old.
A total of 71 people were recovered from the second boat, and an investigation has been launched by French authorities into both incidents.
Increasing Death Toll
These deaths add to the rising number of lives lost in the dangerous journey across the English Channel. French authorities reported that 51 migrants have died in 2024 alone while attempting the perilous crossing. This tragedy highlights the persistent risks faced by those attempting to reach the UK via small boats, often facilitated by criminal smuggling gangs.
Government Reactions and Crackdown on Smugglers
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the smugglers, stating that they "have the blood of these people on their hands." He vowed to intensify efforts to dismantle the smuggling networks responsible for these dangerous crossings. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also expressed her outrage, emphasizing that smuggling gangs "do not care if people live or die" and described the situation as a "terrible trade in lives."
Retailleau and Cooper have both pledged to work together to combat these criminal networks, and Cooper pointed to an action plan agreed upon during a recent G7 meeting to target the financial and supply chains of smuggling operations.
Rising Numbers and Humanitarian Crisis
As of early October 2024, over 25,000 people have attempted to cross the Channel, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis. Figures from the International Organization for Migration estimate that at least 194 migrants have died attempting the crossing between 2018 and September 2024. The rising death toll and the increasing number of dangerous crossings underscore the urgent need for stronger action and international cooperation to address the issue.
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