Multiple small boats containing 348 migrants seeking to reach Britain were rescued from the English Channel after being stranded at sea over the weekend.
The Maritime Prefecture reported on Monday that French rescue ships and two military aircraft were involved in more than 20 distinct rescue operations near the French port of Calais.
Three persons were brought to the hospital with hypothermia and various ailments, according to reports.
Five migrants were rescued by aircraft from a sinking boat in one operation.
The survivors were brought to the French ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer for rescue.
So far this year almost 16,000 migrants have been rescued from distress at sea while attempting to cross the Channel, significantly more than in previous years.
A similarly large number is believed to have successfully made the crossing.
Illegal immigrants are a thorn in the side of the British government, who introduced a new, rigid immigration system after Brexit.
London and Paris recently agreed to step up their efforts to monitor illegal Channel crossings.
Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart called on French President, Emmanuel Macron to take a tougher stance with Britain to resolve the refugee issue.
British policies were effectively encouraging people smuggling and as such actually attracting more refugees, Bouchart told France Info radio on Monday.
“It’s a trial of strength with the British government, who cannot continue to impose its rules on us while at the same time being incapable of regulating its own labour laws,’’ she added, referring to the ease of working in Britain illegally.
At the same time, more action must be taken against people smuggling, Bouchart said.
Currently, around 2,000 illegal immigrants in Calais were hoping to cross the Channel to Britain, for which criminal gangs charge up to 7,000 euros per person.
