Eight people have tragically lost their lives while attempting to cross the Channel from France to England, French police confirmed.
The incident occurred overnight when a rubber boat carrying 50 passengers encountered difficulties in waters north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais, shortly after 01:00 local time (00:00 BST). Rescue services were alerted, but the vessel began sinking soon after departure.
This tragedy comes less than two weeks after another fatal incident on 3 September, when a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank, leading to the deaths of 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman. That incident marked the deadliest loss of life in the Channel this year.
A UK Government spokesperson acknowledged the latest incident, stating that French authorities are leading the rescue and investigation efforts. Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation as “awful,” reiterating that the UK remains committed to working with European partners to combat the criminal gangs behind people smuggling operations. Lammy also noted the dangerous conditions migrants face when attempting the crossing in fragile rubber dinghies.
Regional prefect Jacques Billant is expected to hold a news conference in Ambleteuse at 10:00 local time to address the incident.
The tragedy comes amid a surge in crossing attempts over the past two days, as calmer weather conditions have drawn more people to attempt the perilous journey. French maritime authorities reported that 200 people were rescued within a 24-hour period across Friday and Saturday. Four separate boats, carrying between 36 and 61 people, were rescued by the French coast guard and other emergency responders.
Authorities monitored 18 attempted crossings over the two-day span. Including the eight latest victims, 45 people have now died in the Channel this year, marking the highest death toll since 2021, according to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration. Over 21,000 people have made the dangerous crossing in 2024 alone.
