Eight people tragically lost their lives overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from France, French police have confirmed. The incident occurred after a rubber vessel carrying around 50 migrants encountered difficulties in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Rescue services were alerted shortly after 1:00 AM local time when the boat began to sink in waters north of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais region. The vessel, which had left the French coast just before the incident, was en route to the UK.
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This tragedy comes less than two weeks after 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, perished in a similar crossing attempt—the deadliest loss of life in the Channel this year.
Rescue Efforts and Investigation
The French coast guard reported that the vessel was initially spotted heading toward a beach near Ambleteuse. However, rough conditions prevented rescue teams from reaching the boat at sea. Upon arrival at the shore, emergency responders assisted 53 survivors and confirmed that eight individuals had drowned. A thorough sea search yielded no additional survivors.
The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the UK government acknowledged the tragic event, with officials stating that French authorities are leading the rescue and investigative efforts.
UK Response and Calls for Action
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his sorrow over the “awful” news of more lives lost in the Channel, calling for continued collaboration with European partners to combat people-smuggling networks. Lammy noted the dangers faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey in flimsy rubber dinghies.
In recent days, there has been an increase in crossing attempts as calmer weather conditions have returned to the region. French maritime authorities reported rescuing 200 migrants from various boats over a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday. Rescue operations were carried out on four separate vessels carrying a total of 200 individuals.
Including the latest fatalities, the death toll in the Channel has reached 45 this year, marking the highest number of lives lost since 2021, according to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration. More than 21,000 people have successfully crossed the Channel in 2024.
Advocacy Groups Call for Action
Amnesty International UK described the latest incident as “yet another appalling and avoidable tragedy,” while Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, called for a more comprehensive approach to reducing Channel crossings. Solomon emphasized that “enforcement alone is not the solution,” advocating for the establishment of safer asylum routes to prevent further loss of life.
