Chaos at Sea: Migrants Risk Lives in Deadly Crossing Despite Recent Tragedy
Two Crowded Dinghies Set off from Gravelines
Just over a week after 27 migrants drowned at sea, new attempts to cross the Channel are already underway. Under cover of darkness early Saturday morning, two dinghies slipped into the water off Gravelines, France.
One heavily packed boat measuring six to seven metres reportedly carried around 50 migrants. The second vessel is believed to have held a similar number of people.
Urgent Rescue Underway as Coastguards Track Vessels
French and UK coastguards sprang into action after receiving intelligence about the vessels. A French warship has been monitoring the dinghies, while a UK Coastguard Spotter plane from Doncaster was scrambled to the scene.
A large-scale rescue operation is now underway, co-ordinated by UK Coastguard officers based in dover/" title="Dover" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dover. They are working closely with the RNLI Dover Lifeboat crew and Border Force teams to recover everyone onboard.
Rescue Efforts Ramped Up Amid Rising Channel Crossings
- UK Coastguard leads multi-agency response
- RNLI Lifeboat dispatched from Dover
- French warship tracks vessels from the water
More details to follow as the dramatic rescue unfolds.
