English Channel.Photo: PA
17 boats, 973 migrants and a new record for the year
On Saturday, 973 migrants on 17 small boats crossed the English Channel, the new highest daily figure this year. According to Sky News, this figure surpassed the previous record of 2024, set on 18 June, when 882 people attempted to cross the dangerous waterway.
The total number of migrant arrivals in 2024 reached 26,612, up from 25,330 at the same date last year, although down from 33,611 in 2022. These figures highlight the ongoing pressure on the UK’s borders and the challenges posed by the migration crisis.
Deadly tragedy: four dead, including a child
French authorities reported the deaths of four people while attempting to cross the English Channel on the same day, including a two-year-old boy who was “trampled to death”, according to officials. The incident occurred on a boat with almost 90 passengers, which had an engine failure.
According to the prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, Jacques Billant, the French coastguard responded promptly. 15 people were evacuated to a tow, but the boy, who was found unconscious, could not be saved despite medical intervention by helicopter. Doctors pronounced the child dead.
The fight against smugglers continues
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau reacted sharply to the tragedy, saying on social network X that the child had been “trampled to death”. He also noted: “The blood of these people is on the hands of smugglers. Our government will step up the fight against these mafias that profit from organising deadly crossings of the English Channel.”
His British counterpart, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, expressed her sorrow and outrage, stressing that the life of a young child had been lost to the ruthless activities of smugglers. “Smuggling gangs don’t care whether people live or die,” she added.
Photo: PA
Second incident: more deaths due to overcrowded boats
On the same day, another serious accident occurred: the engine of a boat carrying 83 passengers also failed. Three people – two men and one woman – were found unconscious at the bottom of the boat, apparently strangled and crushed by the stampede.
These tragedies once again highlight the critical situation around cross-Channel migration, pointing to the urgent need for international action to combat smuggling networks and ensure the safety of people trying to find a better life.
