London [UK], October 14: Nearly 500 migrants have made the crossing of the English Channel to the United Kingdom in one day. According to British Home Office figures, a total of 471 people arrived in nine boats on Saturday October 12, following 142 in two boats on Friday. The latest arrivals bring the total so far for 2024 to 27,225 which is a 5% increase on the same time last year but 25% less than 2022. By October 12 2023, 25,931 people had made the crossing and in 2022, 36,491 had arrived.
The crossings on Saturday came a week after four people, including a two-year-old boy, died after two boats got into trouble off the coast of France on Saturday October 5. The fatal incidents came on the same day as 973 migrants crossed in 17 small boats, the biggest daily number this year. A Home Office spokesman said: "We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security." (PA Media/dpa)
Source: Qatar Tribune