In two consecutive nights, State resources at sea, under the coordination of CROSS Gris-Nez, were mobilized to rescue dozens of migrants in difficulty in the Channel, one of the most dangerous maritime zones in the world.
On the evening of Monday January 13, 2025, a migrant boat off the coast of Calais reported engine damage. The maritime gendarmerie patrol boat Mugwort recovered 76 people on board, including two requiring immediate medical attention. These were taken care of at the dock in Calais after a joint assessment with the Samu maritime.
Two boats with 99 migrants
The following night, from January 14 to 15, the regional operational surveillance and rescue center (CROSS) Gris-Nez coordinated several simultaneous operations, mobilizing the tug Bee Normandy and the rescue ship Laughing. Near Gravelines, 58 migrants were rescued by theBee Normandy and disembarked at Boulogne-sur-Mer.
In Malo-les-Bains, 41 other people requested assistance and were picked up by the Laughingwho transported them to Calais. Close surveillance was maintained for the migrants remaining on board their precarious boat.
-Also read -> Auby drama: the victim was a former elected official from Roost-Warendin
In total, 175 migrants were rescued during these operations. The maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea recalls the extreme dangers of these crossings in winter conditions: strong storms, dense maritime traffic, and boats often overloaded and unsuitable. These rescues once again illustrate the risks of these crossings and the permanent mobilization of State resources to protect human lives.
