LONDON- According to media reports, on Thursday, British border and coastguards picked up 49 migrants in small boats suspected of trying to cross the Channel from France.
BBC reported that the group of men, women and one child stated that they were from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. The broadcaster also said that two other boats which carried 14 migrants were dealt with by French authorities.
The people, some wearing lifejackets and others wrapped in blankets were escorted by border force officials ashore to the Dover port in Southeastern England.
“HM Coastguard has been coordinating a search and rescue response to a number of incidents off Kent working with the Border Force,” Sky cited the emergency service as saying.
Three boats and a helicopter were part of the search-and-rescue operation off Kent coast.
The British border patrols regularly intercept migrants trying to cross Channel from France. Over 148 suspected migrants, including several women and children, were picked up from boats earlier this month in the area.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.