Five small boats carrying around 80 migrants on a desperate journey across the English Channel have been intercepted by the Kent coastguard, as the UK’s coronavirus lockdown entered its second day. A further boat, reportedly in distress and carrying a dozen adults and two children, was also rescued by French authorities at around 4am after a helicopter search.
Believed to have been suffering mild hypothermia, those packed aboard the tiny vessel were taken to Bolougne-sur-Mer and handed over to border police, the PA news agency reported.
Passengers in the five other boats were taken to Dover, where they are expected to be monitored for coronavirus. There are fears that coronavirus poses a high risk to the estimated 3,000 refugees and migrants living in northern France, many of whom are suffering with respiratory issues after sleeping rough throughout the winter months.
Migrants from France Part 2
