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140 Migrants Rescued in English Channel Dinghy Incident
Confirmed
In Short: A large group of migrants was rescued in the English Channel after a perilous journey from Normandy.
French rescue boats shadowed a dinghy carrying around 140 migrants for nearly 10 hours in the Bay of the Seine, ensuring it reached UK waters safely. The French coastguard stated it was not safe to attempt to stop the dinghy on water, highlighting the dangers faced by migrants attempting the crossing.
According to reports, the migrants were brought to shore in Portsmouth, where they were transferred from a single inflatable dinghy. Isle of Wight County Press reported that RNLI lifeboats, a coastguard helicopter, and a coastguard aeroplane were involved in the rescue operation. The migrants entered UK waters around lunchtime and were met by Island RNLI lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth.
Hampshire Police urged people to avoid the Eastney Landing ferry port area, where the migrants were brought ashore, and issued a dispersal order. Protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday night, attempting to prevent authorities from transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent. Protesters said they were trying to stop the authorities from moving the migrants.
Earlier in the week, French and British officials met to discuss reducing small boat crossings in the English Channel. While progress has been made, there is a need to address the issue further. The UN reported that at least 84 people died while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024.
French authorities noted that the launching destination of the dinghy was not a common choice for migrant boats attempting the crossing. The incident follows a record 230 people successfully crossing the Channel in a single small boat in August.
What's confirmed
- Dozens of migrants have arrived on the south coast after a major rescue operation at sea.
- Tonight images taken from a vantage point at Hayling Island show the RNLI bringing migrants ashore in Portsmouth.
What's still developing
- An increase in the number of police officers working to tackle the “mega dinghies” transporting migrants from France to Britain was announced before their meeting earlier this week.