At least four migrants die trying to reach the United Kingdom from France after a “water taxi” sinks

These are two men and two women who were swept away by the currents early this morning in the area of Equihen-Plageaccording to what the prefect (government delegate) of Paso de Calais, François-Xavier Lauch.

These four victims “tried to board a ‘water taxi'” and “the currents, which can be dangerous in this area, swept them away,” Lauch said, specifying that this death toll is still “provisional,” since the situation is still being evaluated “and changes may occur.”

Another person has been treated for minor injuries, as he “suffered from hypothermia”, and another 37 were taken to the hospital, according to authorities.

The accident took place early this Thursday morning, and shortly after 7:00 a.m. search and rescue efforts began, after reports that several people were in the water.

The method of “water taxi” consists of human trafficking networks picking up migrants directly from the water, thus avoiding the security forces stationed on land to prevent departures from French beaches.

This system, increasingly common, increases the risks of already dangerous crossings. On April 1, two migrants died in similar circumstances off the coast of Gravelines, in northern France.

It is the third similar incident of its kind that has occurred in the space of a week, since On April 1, two migrants also lost their lives in his attempt to cross the English Channel from the French coast to enter Great Britain.

In that case, the boat in which the deceased were found had problems shortly after leaving Gravelines beach, usually used by trafficking networks to embark migrants, and about thirty people boarded.

Furthermore, this Sunday, two people died and 75 were injured, in a new shipwreck that occurred in the Mediterranean, off the Italian island of Lampedusa, being rescued by two merchant ships.