No small boats migrants have entered the UK via the Channel for 14 days in a row, but a dramatic Channel rescue was needed yesterday (Thursday).
Small boat crossing attempts were made on Thursday but one almost ended in disaster (Image: PA)
No small boat migrants entered the UK for 14 days in a row – but attempts are still being made following a dramatic rescue of 94 people on Thursday.
The most recent date on which people arrived in the UK after making the journey by boat was October 22, according to the latest Home Office data, with zero small boats making land between October 23 and November 5.
This year’s previous longest gap was the 10 days from August 27 to September 5.
In the same period from October 23 to November 5, 2024, a total of 3,182 migrants arrived in 63 small boats.
Bad weather conditions have been blamed for the drop in arrivals, though this time last year also saw events cancelled on the south coast due to Storm Ashley.
Figures haven’t yet been released for yesterday (Thursday, November 6). But we know attempts were made as dramatic scenes played out in the Channel when the French coastguard rescued 94 people after their small boat collapsed as they attempted to cross from Dunkirk.
The migrants were taken back to Dunkirk, where several were reported to be suffering from hypothermia.
The Maritime Prefecture said in a statement: “On the morning of Thursday November 6, multiple departures of migrant boats were reported to the Gris-Nez Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre (Cross).
“At 9.20am, one of the boats, located approximately four nautical miles off Dunkirk, broke apart and all its occupants fell into the water.
“Cross Gris-Nez immediately broadcast a mayday relay message.
“The Minck quickly made contact with the vessel and was joined by a boat from the VB Abeille Normandie, the SNS 276 Notre-Dame des Flandres from the SNSM station in Gravelines (59), and the ESMP 04 of the Maritime Gendarmerie based in Dunkirk.
“The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Dover immediately offered the assistance of a British aircraft, which was integrated into the search and rescue operation deployed in the area by Cross.
“Simultaneously, Cross tasked the French Navy’s Dauphin helicopter based in Le Touquet with the search and rescue operation.
“The Minck, assisted by other resources on site, rescued all those in the water and brought them on board for medical care.
“Ninety-four people were rescued, including three suffering from hypothermia.
“The survivors were then disembarked in Dunkirk for care by state services on land.”
Up to November 5, 36,954 people had made the crossing so far this year – a 17% increase on this point in 2024 and a 38% rise on 2023, but 7% less than in 2022.
