British rescuers responded to calls for help from migrants on a sinking dinghy in the English Channel but could not find them, an investigation has found.
An interim report released on the anniversary of the worst disaster of its kind, which left at least 27 victims dead, said air and sea searches were carried out.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said 34 people left a beach near Dunkirk on a small inflatable boat on the evening of 23 November 2021.
“During the passage, the migrants got into difficulties and entered the sea,” its report added.
“Some of those on board the boat made phone calls to alert Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) ashore about their situation.
“Staff at the Dover MRCC responded to the calls for help and dispatched UK surface and air assets to search the area where the distressed migrants were assessed to be. However, nothing was found.”
At 1pm on 24 November 2021, a French fishing crew reported bodies in the water around 9 miles off the coast of Calais.
Two survivors and 27 bodies were recovered from the sea and taken to
France, while the remaining five passengers were unaccounted for.
The MAIB investigation is separate to a judicial inquiry in France, which has heard that French authorities told drowning migrants they were in British waters and to call 999.
Relatives of the drowned victims say they have not yet been contacted by the UK probe, and have vowed to fight for justice for their loved ones.
Vigils were to be held in Dunkirk, Folkestone and outside parliament in London on Thursday evening.
