Official announcements from the governments of the UK, France, or other involved countries

Four Migrants, Including Two-Year-Old, Die in Record-Breaking Channel Crossing

Oct 5, 2024, 05:02 PM

French authorities have reported that four migrants, including a two-year-old child, died on Saturday while attempting to cross the English Channel in two separate incidents. The child was reportedly trampled to death on an overcrowded boat. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed the incidents, which occurred off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. These tragic events occurred as the number of migrants crossing the Channel continues to rise, with over 26,000 crossings this year. On the same day, a record-breaking 973 migrants arrived in the UK on 17 small boats, the highest daily total for 2024.