THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dozens of people adrift at sea in a rubber boat were rescued early Saturday off the coast of the southern Netherlands, with 38 individuals brought to safety in one of the first such interceptions in the country. The motorless vessel was discovered drifting near the town of Breskens in Zeeland province, situated roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Amsterdam.
The emergency operation was conducted jointly by the Netherlands coast guard and the Marechaussee military police, who towed the unpowered craft safely to shore. Rescue officials reported that none of the occupants were wearing life vests. Among those brought ashore, two individuals were detained on suspicion of people smuggling, according to Marechaussee spokesperson Doron Wallin.
The precise departure point and intended destination of the vessel have not been established. In a telephone interview, Wallin stated that officials were still investigating the route taken by the passengers. “We don’t know where they came from — France, the Netherlands or Belgium — and we don’t know where the boat was heading,” Wallin said.
After reaching dry land, medical personnel screened all 38 individuals for signs of hypothermia. They were subsequently moved to a separate location while authorities conduct investigations into their nationalities and migration status.
While tens of thousands of migrants have attempted to cross the narrow waters separating France from the United Kingdom in recent years, intercepting such boats along the Dutch coastline is uncommon. Wallin highlighted how rare the event was for local forces, noting, “These are things you usually see in France and Belgium. We rarely see it here in the Netherlands before today.”
There were 38 people on the boat, including two who were detained on suspicion of people smuggling, Wallin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. No one was wearing a life vest. It was not immediately clear where they came from or where they were heading.
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