Three Migrants Die in English Channel Crossing Tragedy

Overcrowded boat capsizes near Calais, marking 2024 as the deadliest year for Channel crossings with at least 76 fatalities.

Three migrants drowned early Sunday near Sangatte, France, after falling from an overcrowded small boat attempting to cross the Channel to the UK.
French authorities rescued 45 individuals, with four taken to hospitals for hypothermia treatment, and launched an investigation into the incident.
The deaths bring the total number of fatalities in Channel crossings this year to at least 76, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for such journeys.
Over 1,485 people attempted the perilous crossing during the Christmas period, with more than 36,000 crossings recorded so far in 2024, a 23% increase from last year.
UK and French officials continue to blame people-smuggling networks for exploiting migrants with unsafe boats, while pledging intensified efforts to dismantle these criminal operations.