About 50 people traveling aboard the same boat “in difficulty” off Pas-de-Calais were rescued by a navy ship and brought back to the port of Calais, according to a press release from the Maritime Prefecture of the English Channel. and the North Sea (Premar).
Another ship chartered by the French Navy, in turn, rescued 31 other castaways in the same area, deposited in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Also engaged off Calais, a customs coastguard boat also picked up and brought to the dock 45 other migrants who called for help.
Finally, a canoe from the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM) helped 40 people in difficulty off Oye-Plage and was seen by the Cross Gris Nez (Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue).
40,000 migrants arrived in Britain
All were taken care of by firefighters and border police, from freezing temperatures, which remained negative for part of the day Saturday in the department.
The maritime route between France and England is one of the busiest in the world, “with more than 400 commercial ships passing through it a day and weather conditions are often difficult”, according to Premar.
But more and more exiles are trying to cross. More than 40,000 migrants arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel in small boats in 2022, a record.