London: The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating how British authorities handled a migrant boat that capsized in December, killing at least four people.
Concerns had been voiced regarding the emergency services' response time to the passengers' distress calls, which included unaccompanied children and teenagers.
According to the Independent newspaper, a charity initially contacted the French coastguard after receiving a message from a passenger pleading for assistance. "We have a problem; we are in a boat. Please assist us. Water is entering the boat from the back while it is carrying families and children. The caller announced, "We are in the water.
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According to French authorities, they quickly realized the ship was sailing into British territorial waters. They "gave full support and assistance to the British authorities" and warned the Dover coastguard of the UK.
The boat entered British waters, according to officials, at about 2:30 in the morning. A passing fishing boat noticed the sinking boat just after 3 in the morning and started to rescue the passengers.
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The ship's captain described how his crew swam to save as many people as they could after seeing "people in the water everywhere, screaming."
The fishing boat was the first vessel to arrive at the scene, according to the British government, which stated that the UK search and rescue operation started at 2:16 a.m. 39 people were rescued from the cave, it was added.
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The British government has been accused of endangering lives by failing to establish safer, legal routes for asylum seekers to enter the UK after years of rising numbers of small boats crossing the English Channel.
According to an MAIB spokesperson who spoke to the Independent, the investigation will concentrate on the UK's emergency response.
We'll also investigate the small boat's foundering mechanism.