More than 22,000 migrants arrived in England by crossing the Channel in 2024 (file).
Lille, France:
Eight migrants died early Sunday when their overcrowded ship capsized while trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French authorities said, less than two weeks after this year’s deadliest disaster.
The French and British governments have been trying for years to stem the flow of migrants, who pay smugglers thousands of euros per head to cross from France to England in small boats.
A police source told AFP that the accident occurred shortly after the boat was boarded.
Regional prefect Jacques Billant will hold a press conference at 10 a.m., his office said.
Maritime authorities said on Saturday that there had been numerous attempts by migrants to make the dangerous crossing in small boats in recent days, with 200 people rescued in 24 hours on Friday and Saturday alone.
At least twelve migrants, mainly from Eritrea, died this month off the northern French coast when their boat with dozens of people on board capsized.
It was the deadliest disaster of its kind this year and brought the number of migrant deaths in the Channel to 37, up from 12 in 2023.
More than 22,000 migrants have arrived in England by crossing the Channel since the start of this year, according to British officials.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron vowed this summer to strengthen “cooperation” in tackling the rise in the number of undocumented migrants.
The Channel crossing often proves dangerous, and in November 2021, 27 migrants died when their boat capsized in the deadliest disaster to date.
French authorities try to prevent migrants from taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat, except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns.
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