Three Migrants Die as Dinghy Capsizes Off Calais
Dozens more injured in English Channel incident, marking another tragedy in ongoing migrant crossings.
At least three individuals seeking to reach the United Kingdom died and many more sustained severe injuries when a large inflatable boat capsized off the coast near Calais, France. The incident occurred early Monday morning near Wissant.
A spokesperson for the Pas-de-Calais region confirmed the provisional death toll and stated that numerous individuals were injured. This event follows a similar tragedy last week where three migrants died while attempting to board a vessel.
French prosecutors have initiated criminal investigations into these incidents, with judicial police leading the inquiries. The latest deaths bring the total number of fatalities in the English Channel this year to at least 24, including women and children. Migrants have died from drowning and from being crushed in overcrowded boats.
The most severe incident of this nature occurred in November 2021, when 27 migrants perished after a dinghy sank en route to the UK, representing the highest recorded death toll from a single event.
Recent days have seen multiple crossing attempts from the northern French coast, with smugglers reportedly exploiting calm seas and favorable weather conditions.
According to UK Home Office figures, 781 migrants arrived in Britain last Wednesday, the highest single-day total recorded this year. Since January, a total of 18,565 migrants have reached England via this route, a decrease of over 40 percent compared to the same period in 2025. The increase in crossings suggests that human-trafficking gangs continue to acquire inflatable boats and outboard motors despite efforts to disrupt supply chains.
Last week also included two instances of "uncontrolled landings" where migrant boats reached the UK shores without being intercepted by authorities. In another notable event, a dinghy that departed near Bayeux in Normandy completed a journey lasting 38 hours before its 51 occupants were eventually picked up by RNLI lifeboats and transferred to a Border Force cutter, arriving in Dover early Wednesday.