Three migrants have died after attempting to cross the English Channel from northern France, and at least three others are believed to be missing, local authorities said on Wednesday. This comes one day after a woman died after a dinghy carrying migrants suffered what authorities described as a "catastrophic deflation" in the Channel on Tuesday.
The Pas-de-Calais department's prefecture said on Wednesday (September 10) that three people who died overnight were trying to reach Britain through the perilous Channel crossing.
It is believed that three other migrants went missing at sea during another attempted crossing. The prefecture said that rescue teams managed to rescue one person during that boat accident, reported AP.
The fatalities were reported just one day after a woman died on Tuesday, in an incident about 16 kilometers off the coast of Dover, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the UK Coastguard and Border Force vessels. Two lifeboats and a helicopter were sent to the scene, reported the BBC.
According to officials, several passengers were pulled from the water, while one woman was found unresponsive. She was reportedly given CPR by crew members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a UK charity that saves lives at sea.
The woman was then airlifted to Dover, but was later pronounced dead.
The authorities are conducting an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Political debate
The tragedies come amid heightened political debate over irregular English Channel crossings, which have reached record high levels in recent weeks for the first half of 2025, marking a steep increase compared with the same period in previous years.
The continued increase in the number of irregular arrivals comes despite government efforts, which include bilateral deals with countries such as France. The agreement will see some irregular migrants arriving in the UK on boats be sent back to France, in exchange for others who will be allowed to enter Britain legally.
More than 1,000 people were recorded arriving in small boats on Saturday alone – one of the busiest days of the year. That same day, five people were detained near Kingsdown after apparently reaching the Kent coast without being intercepted at sea, the first such landing reported since December 2022.
Commenting on the death of the woman on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Downing Street said: "We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident. Our immediate thoughts are with all of those who have been affected. This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people."
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Renewed criticism
For aid groups and human rights organizations, Tuesday’s tragedy underscores the human cost of restrictive asylum policies. "Every death in the Channel is preventable," said Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council. "Safe routes save lives. Without them, more people will die."
The English Channel remains one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes. Despite repeated warnings, people continue to attempt the perilous crossing in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats, often paying smugglers thousands of euros for the journey.
According to official figures, tens of thousands of migrants have attempted the crossing so far this year, with several fatalities reported.
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