Three people have died and several more are injured after a boat carrying migrants from France to the UK got into difficulty in the English Channel.
Around 100 of an estimated 105 people in the dinghy have been rescued following the accident off the French coast at Wissant, near Calais, on Monday morning. The boat had left Bleriot Plage earlier that day before getting into trouble in the water.
Victims and rescue operation
One of those killed is understood to be a 10-year-old child, while the other two were women, both 30, according to French authorities. Ship tracking data this morning showed rescue boats were still in the area.
Three other people died in attempted Channel crossings last week.
Crossing numbers and government response
Home Office figures show that 18,609 people have successfully made the journey so far this year, down 42% on this time last year (32,188), and 26% below the figure for the same time period in 2024 (25,165).
More than 700 people arrived in the UK this way last Wednesday, marking the highest number in one day so far in 2026. Last week also saw two uncontrolled landings, where migrant boats arrived on UK shores without being intercepted by authorities.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command.
