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[INTERNATIONAL] · France, United Kingdom · 18 sources

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English Channel: Three migrants die in suspected boat stampede

Three people, including a 10-year-old child and two women, died on Monday during an attempted English Channel crossing from France to the United Kingdom. French authorities reported that the incident involved a “taxi boat”—an inflatable dinghy used by smugglers to pick up migrants from beaches—which ran into trouble off the coast of Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais region.

Initial investigations suggest the deaths were caused by a stampede or crushing due to overcrowding rather than drowning, as the vessel remained afloat in calm seas. Of the 105 people on board, 102 were successfully rescued and taken to the port of Calais. The deceased are believed to be of Eritrean nationality.

This tragedy brings the death toll for attempted Channel crossings this year to at least 22. While Home Office data indicates that overall successful crossings have decreased by approximately 42% compared to the same period last year, the incident highlights the continued dangers of the route and the evolving tactics of smuggling networks, which are increasingly using longer and more remote departure points in Normandy to evade patrols.

Entities

Calais · English Channel · François-Xavier Lauch · Nigel Farage · Pas-de-Calais · Pas-de-Calais Prefecture · Reform UK · Shabana Mahmood · Wissant

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1 day ago