French authorities rescue 107 migrants in the English Channel on Christmas Day

On December 25, French authorities rescued more than 100 migrants trying to cross the channel from France to England. France’s Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture announced in a statement that 12 rescue operations had been staged.

On the morning of Christmas Day, authorities rescued 30 passengers from a boat near Dunkirk. Later in the day, rescuers also helped all 51 passengers on board another boat as it experienced engine damage, also near Dunkirk.

Later, 26 people had to be rescued off a vessel experiencing difficulties near Calais. The English Channel is one of the most dangerous routes tens of thousands of migrants choose to fulfill their European dreams. The route becomes riskier as temperatures drop.

73 migrants lost their lives trying to cross the English Channel to Britain this year, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for the precarious crossings. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for greater international cooperation against people-smuggling gangs.

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