At least eight migrants died during an attempt to cross the Channel off the coast of Pas-de-Calais

A new tragedy has occurred in the Channel, off the coast of Ambleteuse (Pas-de-Calais). HASAt least eight people died during the night of Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 September, while trying to cross the Channel to reach the United Kingdom, Radio France learned from a source close to the case. One person is also in life-threatening condition and five others are slightly injured.“Several migrants have lost their lives,” the Pas-de-Calais prefecture had announced earlier.

This tragedy comes less than two weeks after the worst shipwreck of the year, which left twelve dead on September 3 and brought to at least 37 the number of deaths in such crossings since January. A heavy toll for this year 2024, the deadliest since asylum seekers tried to cross the Channel on makeshift boats.

On Saturday, 200 shipwrecked people were rescued in the Pas-de-Calais area, according to a report sent by the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea. “Eighteen attempts at boat departures were followed by the Cross Gris Nez” on the day, according to authorities.