At least people have died and 43 others rescued after a small migrant boat capsized in the English Channel, sparking a desperate rescue mission.
The Royal Navy, French Navy, Coast Guard and RNLI lifeboats were all involved in a major rescue operation off the coast this morning (December 14). The boat, which was carrying up to 50 people, struggled in icy waters about five miles from the coast.
RNLI lifeboats were launched from Dover at 3.07am, followed by others from Ramsgate and Hastings. Last night temperatures were reported to be -4C as rescue boats and ambulances were called around 3.40am before launching crews off the coast.
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More than 30 of those rescued were pulled from the freezing water. There are fears that the number of people confirmed dead so far is likely to rise.
The waters of the English Channel were said to be calm last night, when attempts to cross are increasing. Dramatic footage from the rescue shows a number of people in a dinghy that appears to be folding in on itself, The mirror reports.
The search is expected to last all day, but due to freezing temperatures, there are unlikely to be any further rescues. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was aware of the “distressing incident”.
She tweeted: “I am aware of a distressing incident in the English Channel this morning and am being kept constantly updated as the agencies respond and urgently establish all the facts. My heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved.”
The tragedy came a day after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled a series of new measures in a bid to limit Channel crossings as he told MPs in the Commons: ‘We need to stop the boats’. More than 44,000 people have made the dangerous crossing this year, according to government figures.
At least 27 migrants died when a dinghy sank on its way to the UK from France in November last year.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said this morning: ‘HM Coastguard is currently coordinating a search and rescue response to an incident involving a small boat off Kent, working with the Navy, Border Force, Kent Police and other partners.
“We sent RNLI lifeboats from Dover, Dungeness, Hastings and Ramsgate and Coastguard rescue teams from Deal, Dungeness and Folkestone, along with the Coastguard Area Commander.
“HM Coastguard helicopters from Lydd and Lee on the Solent and one from the French Navy are involved. A fishing vessel in the area is also assisting in the rescue. South East Coast Ambulance and Kent Police are working with us and an air ambulance has been dispatched..
“The incident is ongoing and we have no further information. HM Coastguard will continue to protect life around the UK’s seas and coastal areas, working with search and rescue resources in the region. .
“If a vessel requires search and rescue assistance, HM Coastguard will continue to respond to anyone who requires it.”
French authorities confirmed that they were taking part in today’s mission and that they had received “distress calls”. A Calais Coastguard source said: ‘There are navy helicopters involved and any lifeboats available to assist this small boat containing migrants bound for the UK.’
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