The Channel – North Sea maritime prefecture reports “numerous departures of migrant boats” on the night of October 31 to November 1, 2024 and counts 160 people rescued between nightfall and early morning. Others successfully crossed and reached Great Britain.
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Dozens of exiled people took to the sea on the night of October 31 to November 1, 2024 on makeshift boats in the hope of reaching Great Britain. Of “numerous departures of migrant boats” which required several assistance and rescue operations, according to the Channel – North Sea maritime prefecture.
The first departure was reported in the evening, and the boat was first monitored by the Cross patrol boat (Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center). A little later, alerted by certain people who were on the boat, the Cross carried out a rescue operation. 57 exiled people were brought back to Calais and taken care of there. “The rest of the boat's occupants continued their journey towards British waters before being taken into care by the British authorities.“, specifies the maritime prefecture.
During the night, a similar situation occurred off Cape Alprech. Called for help, the rescue services deployed a patrol boat to take on board 55 people to bring them back to the quay in Boulogne, to be “supported by the services mandated by the Pas-de-Calais prefecture“.
Finally, “early in the morning“From November 1, a rescue ship was engaged in the Malo-les-Bains sector, in the North, to rescue 48 other people on a boat and bring them back to Calais. There too, others continued on their way and were taken into care in Great Britain by the authorities.
A total of 160 people were rescued in a single night, in addition to the 5,000 others rescued at sea since the start of the year. Already the day before, October 30, state services had spotted several departures. Dozens of migrants were rescued by helicopter and by gendarmes who jumped into the water, and four others lost their lives while attempting the crossing.
In this context, the maritime prefect calls for vigilance and warns all those who plan to embark on this perilous crossing. “This maritime sector is one of the busiest areas in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships passing through it per day and the weather conditions are often difficult, with 120 days of wind greater than or equal to force 7 on annual average for examplehe recalls. It is therefore a particularly dangerous sector, even when the sea seems beautiful.“
Since the start of the year, nearly 30,000 people have successfully crossed. But at least sixty did not survive the journey. According to the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, the months of September and October were “particularly deadly” This year.
The maritime prefecture reminds that there is a telephone number to contact if you are a victim or witness of an event at sea: 196.
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