This Sunday, several rescue operations took place, leading to the rescue at sea of over 360 migrants, including in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais, the maritime prefecture reported. Everyone was trying aboard small boatsto reach England by crossing the English Channel.
Off Leffrinckoucke off Dunkirk, 52 people and then 45 shipwrecked were rescued in two operations, the prefecture detailed in its press release. Three operations off the Pas-de-Calais for several boats in distress also allowed the recovery of 68, 53 and 37 people. Finally, a boat with 68 people on board was rescued off the Dyck area and another with 44 people off Boulogne-sur-mer. The operations were attended by the National Society for Sea Rescue (SNSM) of Dunkerque and Calais, as well as the French Navy.
Disembarked in the ports of Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dunkerque, the shipwrecked were assisted by the fire brigade and the border police.
This maritime sector “is one of the busiest areas in the world”, the prefecture recalled in the statement, “with more than 400 merchant ships crossing it per day” and “often difficult” weather conditions.
