Three Migrants Die in Overloaded Boat Attempting Channel Crossing; 50 Rescued Off Sangatte Coast, 76 Total Deaths in 2024

Dec 29, 2024, 10:33 AM

At least three migrants have died while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the UK, according to reports from French authorities. The incident occurred near Sangatte, in the Pas-de-Calais region, during a chaotic boarding attempt onto an overloaded small boat. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, involving helicopters, with reports indicating that around 50 individuals were rescued from the water. Additionally, several others were hospitalized, with some in intensive care. This tragic event contributes to a grim statistic, as it marks a rising number of migrant fatalities in the Channel, with at least 76 deaths recorded in 2024 alone, making it the deadliest year since the surge of small boat crossings began in 2018.