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27 migrants died after the boat in which they crossed the English Channel, from France to the United Kingdom, wrecked on Wednesday, November 24. French President Emmanuel Macron promised to find those responsible for the tragedy, while his British counterpart, Boris Johnson, announced an emergency meeting.
27 people who crossed the English Channel to the United Kingdom died this Wednesday, November 24, in a shipwreck near the north coast of France. Previously, the French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, had reported that there had been 31 fatalities, however, the French authorities reduced the figure to 27.
According to the official, among the fatalities there are five women and a girl and two people could be rescued by the rescue teams that were present at the site of the wreck.
Local coastguards stated that they could not yet confirm the death toll and confirmed that they had found about 20 people in the water, of whom only two were aware.
The Channel Maritime Prefecture described the tragedy as the “worst accident” of its kind for migrants trying to reach the UK. In reaction, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency meeting this Wednesday, according to his spokesman.
Forte émotion devant le drame des namesux morts dû au chavirage d’un bateau de migrants dans La Manche.
On the other hand, it will be said that the character of the criminal activity of the passeurs qui organisent ces traversées. Je me sur place.– Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) November 24, 2021
Emmanuel Macron promises to find the culprits of the tragedy
French President Emmanuel Macron assured that France will not allow the Canal to become a “cemetery” and promised to find out who was responsible for the situation.
“They are the deepest values in Europe, humanism, respect for the dignity of each person, those who are in mourning,” said the president, who called for an emergency European summit on migration.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex called what happened a “tragedy”. “I direct my thoughts to the many missing and injured, victims of criminal traffickers who exploit the despair and misery of immigrants,” he declared on Twitter.
For his part, the French Interior Minister traveled to the northern city of Calais. “Strong emotion at the tragedy of the many deaths due to the capsizing of a migrant boat in the English Channel,” Gérald Darmanin wrote in a tweet.
“The criminal nature of the smugglers who organize these crossings cannot be overstated,” added the official, who indicated that four people suspected of being “directly related” to the accident had been arrested.
Traffickers would have taken advantage of the good sea conditions to leave the coast of France
The nationalities of the victims and the exact circumstances of the accident have not been disclosed. However, two helicopters and three rescue boats were at the scene, according to local authorities.
The Dunkirk Prosecutor’s Office also indicated that an investigation had been opened for “aid in the illegal entry and stay in an organized gang” and “aggravated homicide”.
A fisherman, Nicolas Margolle, told the Reuters news agency that he had seen two small boats early Wednesday, one with people on board and the other empty. He added that another fisherman had called the rescue operation after seeing an empty boat and 15 people floating nearby, motionless.
Migration tension continues in Calais
The tragedy comes at a time of renewed migratory tension in Calais and its surrounding areas, after the peaks of 2015 and 2016. In the first ten months of this year, 24,655 people tried to cross the English Channel irregularly by sea. to reach the United Kingdom, when in all of 2020 there had been 9,551.
The British government agreed to pay France 62.7 million euros to increase security on its north coast, but says the situation remains “unacceptable”.
The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, despite its strong ocean currents. Overloaded boats often barely stay afloat, being left at the mercy of the waves.
With AFP, EFE and Reuters
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