Netherlands coast guard rescues 38 people adrift in a rubber boat

Off the coast of the southern Netherlands, a rubber boat containing 38 people was rescued early Saturday morning by the Marechaussee military police and the Netherlands coast guard. The vessel, lacking a motor, was drifting near Breskens, around 155 miles south of Amsterdam, according to Wallin, a Marechaussee spokesperson. Among the passengers were two individuals detained on suspicion of people smuggling.

Notably, none of the 38 people were wearing life vests. The boat's origin and destination remained unclear, as it was not immediately known if they were from France, the Netherlands, or Belgium. All those on board were taken to shore, assessed for hypothermia risks, and subsequently transported to another location while their nationalities and migration statuses were scrutinized.

Wallin highlighted that while recent years have seen thousands of migrants attempting to cross the sea separating France and the United Kingdom, it is highly uncommon for a boatload to be found off the Dutch coast.