Two men have died after a crowded migrant boat encountered difficulties while attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France.
The incident occurred off the coast of Berck on Sunday night, after French authorities reportedly spotted a boat leaving the shoreline at about 10 p.m. local time.
Rescuers who reached the vessel found it severely overcrowded, with migrants reportedly using their shoes to remove water from the boat. More than 80 people were believed to be on board, while around 20 others were left in the water after there was no room for them on the vessel.
The rescue team also detected a strong smell of petrol, with two women suffering burns after coming into contact with seawater contaminated by fuel. The women, both Somali nationals aged 20 and 26, were taken to hospital in Rang-du-Fliers and were said to be in stable condition.
The two men, believed to be in their 30s and 40s, were found in cardiac arrest when rescuers arrived. They were brought ashore alongside the injured women, but despite efforts by firefighters and medical teams, both men died around midnight.
The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The incident highlights the continuing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Britain through the English Channel, one of the world’s busiest and most hazardous shipping routes.
