French authorities announced on Saturday that around 100 migrants attempting to reach England in clandestine boats were rescued in the English Channel over a 24-hour period on Thursday and Friday.
In total, 99 people were saved through several distinct operations between Thursday evening and Friday evening, according to a statement from the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Premar).
Some of the rescued migrants were on overloaded, waterlogged, or drifting vessels, while others encountered difficulties while boarding dinghies.
Thursday to Friday night witnessed numerous migrant boats attempting to cross, as noted by Premar. British authorities reported that 919 migrants made the crossing on Friday using 14 different boats.
One rescue operation on Friday involved a vessel taking on water off the coast of Dunkirk, Premar detailed.
A public service patrol boat rescued 63 individuals. Initially, 16 others on the boat refused assistance, even as the vessel continued to deflate, but were eventually retrieved by two other ships and returned to the French coast.
On Friday evening, as the Pas-de-Calais department was under an orange storm warning and weather conditions worsened, nine people from a vessel were rescued.
Since the start of the year, at least 15 people have died in the English Channel, according to an AFP count based on official figures.
