Small boat crossings from France to the UK have resumed after a two-week pause caused by rough seas. On Thursday, 94 people were rescued from a capsized boat off Dunkirk, while new departures were observed Friday morning from Gravelines.
The French coastguard rescued the 94 migrants four nautical miles off the French coast. Three of those rescued were suffering from hypothermia, according to the French maritime prefecture.
On Friday morning, migrants were seen departing from Gravelines on the northern French coast, wearing orange life jackets and navigating through thick mist. Marine tracking apps confirmed the departures.
Current crossing numbers
Yesterday, 621 people reached the UK across nine boats. This brings the total number of crossings in 2024 to 37,575 as of November 6.
Small boat crossings represent just 4% of overall UK immigration this year. However, they account for over 80% of unauthorised arrivals to the UK in 2024.
The calm weather marks the first opportunity for crossings since October 22, when rough seas halted all small boat activity for two weeks.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
