Three people died on Sunday December 29 in an attempted clandestine crossing of the Channel, announced the mayor of Sangatte (Pas-de-Calais), to Agence France-Presse (AFP), a tragedy which brings to at least 76 the number of candidates for exile who died this year in such attempts.
The tragedy took place near Blériot-Plage in Sangatte, according to a source close to the emergency services. Around 6 a.m., several people found themselves in the water after trying to board an overloaded boat, the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Prémar) told AFP. Around fifty were taken care of on land, either by associations or by state services, and several resources were deployed at sea, including a helicopter from the national navy, declared the maritime prefecture. Among these people, many were in a situation of hypothermia, continued Prémar. According to the same source, the boat continued on its way.
“It doesn’t stop, it’s crossing after crossing, there is no decline, quite the contrary”reacted the mayor of Sangatte, Guy Allemand, to AFP. The system put in place is “unprecedented in the town”he assured, specifying that 41 migrants are welcomed within the town's nautical base, supervised by the police. In addition to the three people who died, “seven people are in relative emergency”he added.
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Since Christmas, light winds have favored crossing attempts. Between Wednesday and Saturday, nearly 1,500 migrants arrived in English waters aboard « small boats »frail boats often overloaded, according to figures communicated by the British authorities. Since January, more than 36,000 people have successfully crossed by this means. “Many departures” took place again on Sunday morning, according to Prémar.
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