Eight Dead After Tragic Channel Crossing Attempt

French police have confirmed that eight people lost their lives overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from France. The incident occurred in waters north of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the northern Pas-de-Calais region, after the boat got into trouble at around 01:00 local time (00:00 BST).

The rubber vessel, carrying about 60 people from countries including Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, and Iran, faced difficulty as it neared the town of Ambleteuse. The French coast guard stated that the boat headed toward a beach but could not be assisted from the sea. The vessel was then driven onto rocks, where it came apart, leading to the tragic loss of life.

Emergency services tended to 53 people on the beach and confirmed the deaths of eight individuals. Six others, including a baby suffering from hypothermia, were taken to a hospital. No additional people were found during subsequent sea searches.

The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident. A UK government spokesperson acknowledged the event, noting that French authorities are leading the response and investigation.

This tragedy comes less than two weeks after another devastating loss, where 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, died in a similar crossing attempt. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his sorrow, calling it “awful” and reaffirmed the government’s plan to work with European partners to target criminal people-smuggling gangs in an effort to deter small boat crossings.