Twenty migrants, including five minors, who were trying to reach England were rescued Thursday, July 30 off Escalles (Pas-de-Calais), announced the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea. “ At 5:46 am, the Gris-Nez regional operational surveillance and rescue center (CROSS) was warned by a fishing vessel that a boat was in difficulty off Escalles, ” the maritime prefecture said in a statement.
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Arrived on site, the CROSS patroller took charge of " 18 people, including five minors and three women, whose boat was starting to take water ". “ On the way to Calais, the patrol boat saw two other castaways on a paddle. The French customs crew then also came to their aid, ”the statement added. At around 10:30 am, the 20 castaways were brought “ to the port of Calais where they were taken care of by the firefighters of the SDIS 62 and by the border police. They are all safe and sound ”.
Since January 1, at least 624 migrants have been intercepted by French authorities after trying to cross the Channel using makeshift boats or swimming, according to an AFP count.
