Migrant boat capsizes off English Coast, rescue operation underway

A boat carrying illegal immigrants has capsized off the coast of Kent, England, Report informs via The Daily Telegraph. British and French rescue teams are currently at the scene, having pulled 84 people from the water, including a six-month-old child. As of now, there are no reports of fatalities.

According to the newspaper, the motor of the rubber boat, which was carrying a group of illegal immigrants and children attempting to cross from France to the United Kingdom, failed in the middle of the English Channel. The boat overturned as passengers tried to turn it back towards the French coast.

The number of illegal migrants reaching the shores of England via inflatable boats across the Channel has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Since 2018, more than 110,000 illegal immigrants have made the crossing using this method, despite promises from the ruling Conservative Party to address the issue. This year alone, 10,700 people have already used this illegal sea route, a 41% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Favorable weather conditions have contributed to the increased activity of criminal gangs engaged in the illegal transportation of people.