- Three migrants died off Calais in an overcrowded boat; others remain missing.
- French authorities blame smuggling gangs and vow enforcement.
- Over 30,000 migrants have crossed into the UK in small boats this year.
- UK asylum applications hit a record high; housing remains contentious.
- Labour’s “one in, one out” deal with France aims to deter crossings.
Three migrants have died off the coast of Calais in a tragic attempt to cross the English Channel, French authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The victims, believed to be young people from Egypt and Southeast Asia, were reportedly crushed at the bottom of an overcrowded boat carrying more than 70 passengers.
The incident occurred near Sangatte around 5:00 a.m. local time, prompting a rescue operation led by France’s maritime authorities. While 44 people were saved, three were later pronounced dead and three others hospitalized. Shockingly, 28 passengers refused assistance and continued their journey toward the UK.
French officials say smuggling gangs are to blame, with the Prefect of Pas-de-Calais vowing to crack down on the criminal networks facilitating these perilous crossings. In a separate incident, three migrants remain missing after another boat attempted the journey from Neufchâtel-Hardelot. A third vessel, carrying a record 115 people, was intercepted by the French navy without reported injuries.
This latest tragedy adds to a growing death toll in the Channel, where more than 20 lives have been lost in 2025 alone. Last year, 82 migrants died — the highest on record, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The UK continues to face mounting pressure over its immigration system. More than 30,000 people have arrived in small boats this year, with over 50,000 crossings recorded since Labour took office in July 2024. The government’s “one in, one out” deal with France aims to deter crossings by balancing returns with asylum admissions, but critics say the policy has yet to stem the tide.
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called the crossings “utterly unacceptable” and pledged to target the smugglers behind them. Meanwhile, asylum applications have hit a record 111,000 in the year to June, and housing remains a flashpoint — with over 32,000 asylum seekers still in hotels despite Labour’s push to phase them out.
As the Channel becomes a graveyard for desperate migrants, the crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated action, humane policy, and stronger safeguards against exploitation.
