An attempt to cross the English Channel from France to Britain resulted in the deaths of three migrants on Sunday, bringing the total number of people killed by unsuccessful clandestine crossings this year to 76.
According to an emergency services source, the boat carrying the migrants encountered difficulties at approximately 6:00 am (0500 GMT) near Bleriot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte near the French Channel port of Calais.
Conflicts between groups of migrants trying to board the already crowded vessel caused many individuals to fall into the water, according to Pas-de-Calais area prefect Jacques Billant.
French marine services told AFP that some 50 people, many of whom were hypothermic, received emergency assistance on the beach from government agencies or non-governmental organizations.
According to Billant, Sangatte’s naval facility provided treatment for 41 individuals who fell into the ocean after being abandoned by the boat.
The French navy deployed a helicopter to help rescue the migrants.
Rescue attempts continued in vain into the afternoon, the maritime services said.
“It never stops,” said the mayor of Sangatte, Guy Allemand. “It’s crossing after crossing, without any letup.”
Seven people required intensive care, he said.
The vessel continued its journey towards the English shore, “leaving behind a heavy toll”, said Billant.
He said that the small vessel had arrived in Bleriot-Plage where “there were several groups ready to board an already overcrowded boat”.
An extra group of migrants apparently also tried to board the boat leading to “exchanges of blows and jostling” which led to “three people who fell into the water losing their lives”, said Billant.
Britain’s Border security and Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle blamed “ruthless criminals running the small boat trade” for the tragedy for “overloading people into unseaworthy vessels”.
Favourable winds since last weekend have encouraged migrants to attempt the crossing, with around 1,500 migrants making it in small boats to English waters between Wednesday and Saturday, according to British authorities.
The total number of migrants arriving in England in small boats since the start of the year is estimated at 36,000.
French authorities said that “several” such boats departed from the French coast early on Sunday.
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