Two women have died during an attempt to cross the English Channel from France. The individuals, believed to be of Somali origin, were found in cardiac arrest after their makeshift boat encountered trouble. French authorities reported the discovery of the bodies on Saturday.
Details emerging from the incident suggest a perilous journey gone wrong. Reports indicate the boat, carrying approximately 82 people, ran aground on a beach in northern France. Some accounts specify the location near Neufchatel-Hardelot, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Another migrant's body was also found in a canal.
Migrants were observed preparing for such crossings from various points along the coast, awaiting favourable weather. In separate incidents, over 100 migrants were rescued from the Channel last Sunday after their vessel broke down.
This latest tragedy occurs amid heightened pressure on the UK government regarding the persistent flow of small boats crossing the Channel and the subsequent asylum seeker applications. An agreement was recently signed with France, promising an increase in French police presence on beaches.
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The precariousness of these crossings is underscored by past events, including a previous incident this month where three people died, likely in a crush aboard a packed boat near Calais. At least 25 people are reported to have died this year alone in similar attempts. The two women who perished are believed to have been in their 20s, with one source mentioning a teenage girl aged 16 and another woman aged 29. Three other individuals were reported to be in critical condition following this event.
