Four Migrants Die Off French Coast as Channel Crossings Turn Deadly Again

Four people have died off the northern coast of France after being swept away by strong currents while attempting to cross the English Channel on Thursday, bringing the number of small‑boat fatalities this year to six. The victims two men and two women were trying to board a crowded vessel near the village of Equihen‑Plage when the tragedy unfolded, according to regional official François‑Xavier Lauch.

Rescuers treated one survivor for hypothermia, and authorities later confirmed that two children were taken to hospital. The nationalities of the deceased have not yet been identified. Emergency crews rushed to the beach, where dozens of migrants stood wrapped in thermal blankets, some wearing life jackets, and one woman holding a baby.

Officials said the group had been attempting to board a so‑called “taxi boat,” a method used by smugglers in which dinghies move offshore to pick up migrants wading into shallow waters a tactic designed to evade coastal patrols. Prosecutor Cécile Gressier said the victims were all adults and that the boat continued its journey with around 30 people on board after the failed boarding attempt.

Gressier said the latest deaths highlight how smuggling networks continue to “enrich themselves” by exploiting vulnerable people desperate to reach Britain. Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said local mayors have been requesting additional resources for months, but appeals to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez have gone unanswered. “We demand a clear strategy,” she said.

A UK government spokesperson said Britain would “continue working relentlessly with the French” to prevent such “perilous journeys,” calling each death “a tragedy” and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs.

Last week, two men one Sudanese and one Afghan died attempting a similar crossing, marking the first Channel fatalities of the year. At least 29 people died in 2025, according to an AFP tally based on French and British sources. The handling of undocumented migrants remains a contentious political issue between Paris and London, with the UK government under pressure to curb arrivals.

France recently adjusted its policy to allow the interception of taxi boats at sea, though only under specific conditions.