Tragedy in the English Channel: Migrant Dies as Boat Sinks Near French Coast
One migrant drowned and 61 others were rescued after an overloaded boat carrying irregular migrants capsized in the English Channel early Monday morning, Anadolu Agency reported. The incident occurred off the coast of Pas-de-Calais, France, according to BFMTV reports.
French maritime authorities launched a rapid rescue operation, saving 61 individuals from the sinking vessel. The victims were attempting to reach the United Kingdom from Petit-Fort-Philippe Beach near Gravelines—a known departure point for migrant crossings.
This marks at least the 13th fatality in Channel crossing attempts since January 2025, continuing a dangerous trend despite heightened patrols.
In 2024, according to the count by the Office to Combat Illicit Migrant Trafficking (Oltim), 78 migrants died in these dangerous crossings, a record since the beginning of this phenomenon in 2018. From January to December 2024, more than 36,800 people arrived in the UK on makeshift boats, 25% more than in 2023. Under pressure to curb these crossings, British Labour government led by Keir Starmer is set to unveil Monday a roadmap including “radical measures” to reduce immigration.
