Four migrants die trying to cross Channel from France to Britain

Published on 30/07/2026 - 11:43 GMT+2

Four migrants died in two separate attempts to cross the Channel from France to Britain, French authorities said on Thursday.

A boat sank late Wednesday off the coast of the seaside town of Hardelot, leading to the death of one man, while three more people were found dead near the port of Dunkirk, they said.

In 2025, 6,177 migrants were saved on the French side of the Channel by French authorities.

In April, the British government signed a three-year agreement with the French authorities, providing for the payment of £662M (€771M) to fund patrols on the beaches from which these makeshift boats set sail.