Two Somali women die as overloaded Channel dinghy carrying about 100 migrants sinks off northern France

Two Somali women died when an overloaded dinghy carrying about 100 migrants sank off the northern French coast after setting out for the United Kingdom in the early hours, French authorities said. The vessel went down around 3:15 a.m., and rescuers recovered what appeared to be two deceased passengers.

Sixty people were rescued when the craft reached the French shore about an hour later after drifting without starting, according to local officials. Among the rescued were a couple and their child, all suffering from mild hypothermia and taken to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

In a separate incident, the body of a migrant was found yesterday in a canal leading to the sea in Gravelines — one of the main launch points for the dinghies — authorities said.

At least 25 people have died so far this year trying to make the dangerous crossing in small boats. Hundreds of migrants have been seen gathering at beaches along the coastline of northern France since Friday, drawn by forecasts of calm sea conditions over the weekend. Despite the large numbers, riot police with truncheons and shields watched as scores of migrants prepared to cross.

One observer at Dover said that at least six Border Force cutters arrived at the port through the day and into the evening, landing more than 600 illegal migrants — the vast majority men — on British soil.

Migrants have continued to pile into overcrowded boats as they desperately attempt to cross the Channel just hours after two women died trying to reach Britain. Cecile Gressier, the public prosecutor for Boulogne-sur-Mer, said the latest victims were “two adult Somali women” and that an investigation has been opened to establish the circumstances of the deaths. The boat had got into trouble near Neufchatel Hardelot, south of Boulogne, according to prosecutors.

Last year, 78 migrants died trying to reach Britain in small boats — the highest toll since 2018 when people smugglers began using dinghies. Since January, a record 32,000 illegal migrants have arrived in Britain by crossing the Channel, and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour took power in July 2024.

The government has faced increasing pressure to stem the number of small boats and to curb the networks that profit from people trafficking. France and the United Kingdom recently agreed on a “one in, one out” deal intended as a deterrent, but it has so far made little impact. Under the arrangement, illegal Channel migrants who make it to the UK are swapped for asylum claims in France that are deemed strong and have not attempted the crossing.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the crossings as “totally unacceptable,” and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the “vile” people smugglers behind them are “wreaking havoc on our borders.”