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Migrants Attempt Another Channel Crossing After Tragic Incident

A vessel of the French Gendarmerie Nationale patrols in front of the Wimereux beach, France, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. A boat carrying migrants ripped apart in the English Channel as they attempted to

Another attempt to cross the English Channel by migrants has been observed just a day after a tragic incident claimed the lives of 12 individuals. A boat carrying several dozen people was spotted off the coast of northern France on Wednesday, seemingly en route to Britain.

Reporters on a beach in Wimereux, near the site of the previous day's fatal sinking, captured live footage of an overcrowded inflatable boat at sea. The vessel was heavily loaded, with passengers squeezed together on the inflatable tubes, some even dangling their legs over the sides. Many of them were seen wearing orange life preservers.

A French patrol boat, displaying the national flag, approached the inflatable and provided additional orange life vests to those on board. Meanwhile, a larger patrol vessel with a French tricolor stripe monitored the situation from a distance. Despite the relatively calm sea conditions in the English Channel, the boat seemed to be progressing slowly.

Overcrowded inflatable boat spotted off coast of northern France.
Recent attempt to cross English Channel by migrants observed.
French patrol boat approached vessel, provided additional life vests.
Larger patrol vessel monitored situation from a distance.

Despite being under observation for over an hour, the vessel remained visible from the shore, with the small patrol boat circling around it. The gray waters of the channel gently lapped against the beach, where bystanders were seen strolling and walking their dogs.

For more updates on migration issues, you can follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.

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