At least 12 individuals have tragically lost their lives, including a pregnant woman and several children, after a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel, according to the French Interior Minister. Two additional people are reported missing.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that the victims were primarily women and children. The French coast guard successfully rescued more than 50 people off the Gris-Nez cape, with two individuals in critical condition. Darmanin noted that the boat was severely overloaded and indicated that fewer than eight passengers were wearing life jackets.
This calamity marks the deadliest incident in the Channel this year. The mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Frédéric Cuvillier, has expressed concerns over the loss of life, while the local prosecutor revealed that those who perished were predominantly of Eritrean origin, though they lacked specific national identification.
Prior to this incident, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported that 30 people had died crossing the Channel in 2024, making it the deadliest year since 2021. Darmanin stated that French authorities have managed to prevent around 60% of small boat departures, but cited a troubling trend of smugglers overcrowding vessels—putting as many as 70 individuals on boats designed for 30 to 40.
He called for the UK and EU to establish a “treaty on migration” to effectively manage small boat crossings. In response to the tragedy, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper labeled it “horrifying and deeply tragic”, condemning the actions of human smuggling networks that risk lives by overcrowding unsafe dinghies.
Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, remarked on the increasing frequency of such tragedies, questioning the commitment of political leaders to prevent further loss of life. The French coastguard reported a large-scale rescue operation involving helicopters and Navy boats, underscoring the urgency of addressing the rising number of crossings, which has exceeded 135,000 since 2018.
In 2024, over 21,000 individuals have already made the perilous journey across the Channel. While this represents an increase compared to the previous year, it is still less than the record high of 45,755 crossings documented in 2022. Both major political parties in the UK have recognized the need to tackle this pressing issue.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to implement stronger measures against smugglers, earlier canceling a controversial plan from the previous administration to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The government has taken steps to combat these criminal networks by enhancing recruitment for the National Crime Agency and establishing a Border Security Command.
However, critics argue that more should be done to provide safe pathways for asylum seekers. Amnesty International UK emphasized that without addressing the underlying needs of those targeted by smugglers, tragic incidents will continue.
