Three migrants died overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France, and at least three others are believed to be missing at sea, local authorities said Wednesday.
The Pas-de-Calais department’s prefecture said the three people who died were trying to reach Britain through the perilous waterway. In a separate incident, officials reported that three other migrants went missing at sea during another attempted crossing; rescue teams were able to salvage one person from that boat, the prefecture said.
The incidents were reported Sept. 10, 2025, as efforts by migrants to cross the Channel in small, often unseaworthy boats have multiplied in recent days because of favorable weather. According to British government figures cited by French authorities, more than 1,100 people traveling in small boats arrived in Britain last week.
Pas-de-Calais officials did not immediately release the nationalities of those involved or details about the vessels. French maritime and local emergency services typically coordinate search-and-rescue operations in the area, and investigators often examine boats and interview survivors to establish how incidents occurred.
Crossings of the Channel have increased in recent years, driven by a mix of conflict, poverty, and people-smuggling networks that organize departures from northern French beaches and ports. The narrow waterway between France and Britain is known for strong currents, busy shipping lanes and rapidly changing weather, which make journeys in small craft particularly hazardous.
The latest fatalities underscore the continuing human cost of the irregular crossings and come amid ongoing diplomatic discussions between France and Britain about how best to curb the flow of migrants and prevent deaths at sea. Both governments have at times increased patrols, interdicted boats, and pursued agreements aimed at disrupting smuggling networks, while rights groups have called for safer, legal routes for people seeking asylum.
Officials in the Pas-de-Calais department urged anyone with information about the incidents to contact local authorities. French authorities and British officials often exchange information after such events, and inquiries typically include efforts to identify the dead and missing and to determine whether criminal investigations into smuggling are warranted.
Attempts to cross the Channel in small boats have produced several deadly incidents in recent years. Rescue services and government agencies say they face fast-moving situations that require rapid coordination among local police, maritime authorities and humanitarian responders to reduce loss of life.