Eight people have died trying to cross the&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;from France to England, French authorities said on Sunday, confirming earlier media reports.

This latest incident follows the deaths of 12 people earlier this month when their boat capsized in the&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;on its way to Britain and highlights the pressure on the British and French governments to find ways to tackle the boat crossings.

Jacques Billant, the Prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, said that rescue crews were alerted that a boat with 59 people onboard was in difficulty in waters off the coast of Ambleteuse in the Pas-de-Calais area.

"A new drama took place around one in the morning and we deplore the death of eight people," he told a news conference, adding that the other 51 onboard were now in the care of rescue and medical crews.

The dead were men from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Egypt, Iran, and Afghanistan, he added.

The&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, and currents are strong, which makes crossing on small boats dangerous.

The latest incident brings to 46 the number of people who have died trying to cross the&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;from France since the start of the year, Billant said.

On September 14 alone, there were eight attempts to cross the&nbsp;Channel&nbsp;from France, and some 200 migrants were rescued, he said.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
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Eight people have died trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French authorities said on Sunday, confirming earlier media reports. This latest incident follows the deaths of 12 people earlier this month when their boat capsized in the Channel on its way to Britain and highlights the pressure on the British and French governments to find ways to tackle the boat crossings.

Eight people have died trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French authorities said on Sunday, confirming earlier media reports. This latest incident follows the deaths of 12 people earlier this month when their boat capsized in the Channel on its way to Britain and highlights the pressure on the British and French governments to find ways to tackle the boat crossings. Jacques Billant, the Prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, said that rescue crews were alerted that a boat with 59 people onboard was in difficulty in waters off the coast of Ambleteuse in the Pas-de-Calais area. "A new drama took place around one in the morning and we deplore the death of eight people," he told a news conference, adding that the other 51 onboard were now in the care of rescue and medical crews. The dead were men from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Egypt, Iran, and Afghanistan, he added. The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, and currents are strong, which makes crossing on small boats dangerous. The latest incident brings to 46 the number of people who have died trying to cross the Channel from France since the start of the year, Billant said. On September 14 alone, there were eight attempts to cross the Channel from France, and some 200 migrants were rescued, he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Eight die in Channel crossing attempt, French authorities say

Four migrants have died while trying to cross the English Channel on an inflatable boat from France to the UK, French authorities said Friday.

The migrants' vessel capsized and punctured off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in northern France, the prefecture responsible for the region said in a statement. Sixty-three people were rescued by the French coast guard.

The prefecture said a French navy patrol boat spotted the overcrowded vessel early Friday as it deflated off the French coast. Several people were “drifting in the water while others were still clinging to the broken rubber dingy," the statement said.

Navy vessels, a fishing boat and a Navy helicopter joined the effort. Survivors were brought to the shore in Boulogne to receive medical attention and temporary shelter, the statement also said.

Migrants trying to reach the UK&nbsp;risk drowning as they try to cross the busy English Channel, often aboard crowded, unseaworthy boats.

French maritime officials responsible for the Channel and the North Sea have warned anyone who plans to cross the Channel to reconsider due to the many risks involved in the perilous journey. The channel is one of the busiest waterways in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships sailing through it daily, officials said, adding that weather conditions are often difficult due to strong winds that prevail 120 days a year.

"It's dangerous even when the sea seems calm," they said in a statement.

Friday's tragedy in the channel comes amid a continuing flow of people making the journey to the UK&nbsp;The latest figures from Britain’s Home Office, which deals with immigration issues, show that 419 people made the journey across the Channel from France to the UK&nbsp;in six boats on Tuesday, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who took over earlier this month after the Labour Party’s election victory, has launched a Border Security Command designed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs orchestrating the crossings. A commander for the new entity has not yet been appointed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-crossbow-attack-man-suspected-of-killing-3-women-formally-arrested-740254">UK crossbow attack: Man suspected of killing 3 women formally arrested</a>

“The further loss of life in the Channel...is truly awful. My thoughts are with all those affected,″ Cooper wrote. “Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.”

The leader of Britain's anti-immigrant Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, underscored the pressure to address the issue in a post on X Friday.

“The new government had better start moving fast,” he said.

Last month, British authorities rescued 80 migrants at sea after a small boat got into difficulty while crossing the English Channel from France.

An estimated 30,000 people made the crossing in 2023, according to UK&nbsp;government figures.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Four migrants have died while trying to cross the English Channel on an inflatable boat from France to the UK, French authorities said Friday. The migrants' vessel capsized and punctured off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in northern France, the prefecture responsible for the region said in a statement.

Four migrants have died while trying to cross the English Channel on an inflatable boat from France to the UK, French authorities said Friday. The migrants' vessel capsized and punctured off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, in northern France, the prefecture responsible for the region said in a statement. Sixty-three people were rescued by the French coast guard. The prefecture said a French navy patrol boat spotted the overcrowded vessel early Friday as it deflated off the French coast. Several people were “drifting in the water while others were still clinging to the broken rubber dingy," the statement said. Navy vessels, a fishing boat and a Navy helicopter joined the effort. Survivors were brought to the shore in Boulogne to receive medical attention and temporary shelter, the statement also said. Migrants trying to reach the UK risk drowning as they try to cross the busy English Channel, often aboard crowded, unseaworthy boats. French maritime officials responsible for the Channel and the North Sea have warned anyone who plans to cross the Channel to reconsider due to the many risks involved in the perilous journey. The channel is one of the busiest waterways in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships sailing through it daily, officials said, adding that weather conditions are often difficult due to strong winds that prevail 120 days a year. "It's dangerous even when the sea seems calm," they said in a statement. Friday's tragedy in the channel comes amid a continuing flow of people making the journey to the UK The latest figures from Britain’s Home Office, which deals with immigration issues, show that 419 people made the journey across the Channel from France to the UK in six boats on Tuesday, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who took over earlier this month after the Labour Party’s election victory, has launched a Border Security Command designed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs orchestrating the crossings. A commander for the new entity has not yet been appointed. Also read: UK crossbow attack: Man suspected of killing 3 women formally arrested “The further loss of life in the Channel...is truly awful. My thoughts are with all those affected,″ Cooper wrote. “Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.” The leader of Britain's anti-immigrant Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, underscored the pressure to address the issue in a post on X Friday. “The new government had better start moving fast,” he said. Last month, British authorities rescued 80 migrants at sea after a small boat got into difficulty while crossing the English Channel from France. An estimated 30,000 people made the crossing in 2023, according to UK government figures. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

English Channel crossing: Four migrants die, dozens rescued after boat capsizes

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Eight die in Channel crossing attempt, French authorities say

English Channel crossing: Four migrants die, dozens rescued after boat capsizes