Two migrants die in fresh Channel crossing incident near Berck
Two migrants died and two women hospitalized with burns in separate Channel crossing incident near Berck.
Event / Society
English Channel Migrant Crossings
Ongoing clandestine migration attempts across the English Channel with recurring fatalities. Reports cover rescue operations, deaths, smuggling networks, and enforcement efforts by French and UK authorities.
7 reported locations
Daily activity
4 articles0 articles
2026-09-28 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Sept, 15:29 UTC
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What happened
Two migrants die in English Channel crossing attempt near Berck
Two men, aged approximately 30 and 40 years old, died during an illegal crossing attempt of the English Channel off Berck in Pas-de-Calais during the night of Sunday to Monday, October 5, 2026. The incident occurred in waters between France and the United Kingdom.
Investigation opened into English Channel crossing deaths
The prosecutor's office in Boulogne-sur-Mer opened an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two migrants in the October 5 English Channel crossing incident.
Migration death toll reaches at least 24 in English Channel since start of 2026
The two deaths in the October 5 incident bring the total number of migrant deaths at sea on the France-UK border to at least 24 since the beginning of 2026, according to an AFP count based on official sources.
Three migrants, including child, died in separate Channel crossing one week prior
One week before the October 5 incident, another illegal English Channel crossing attempt resulted in three deaths, including a child. The victims were found in an overcrowded vessel off Pas-de-Calais.
Two women hospitalized with severe burns from chemical reaction in Channel crossing
Two women were hospitalized in urgent relative condition with burns covering large portions of their bodies following the same English Channel crossing attempt. The burns resulted from a chemical reaction when gasoline mixed with seawater, according to reports.
Death toll from Channel crossing attempts reaches 22 for 2026
The three deaths near Wissant on September 28, 2026, bring the total number of people who died attempting clandestine crossings of the English Channel to 22 since the beginning of 2026. This figure is based on an official count compiled from government sources.
Clandestine Channel crossings decline 40 percent in 2026
Despite the continued use of dangerous crossing methods, the number of people reaching the United Kingdom via clandestine Channel crossings has decreased significantly. As of late September 2026, 18,609 people had reached the UK after clandestine crossings since the beginning of the year, representing a decline of more than 40 percent compared to the same period in 2025. A single day on an unspecified date in September 2026 saw 781 arrivals, a daily record, distributed across ten boats.
French authorities dismantle 13 migrant smuggling networks in Pas-de-Calais
Since the beginning of 2026, French authorities in the Pas-de-Calais department have dismantled 13 migrant smuggling networks and arrested 174 people involved in facilitating clandestine Channel crossings. The prefecture reported that interdiction efforts have prevented 60 percent of attempted departures and reduced the number of people attempting to cross by 55 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Inquiry opened into deaths in English Channel crossing incident
Following the September 28 incident near Wissant, the prosecutor's office in Boulogne-sur-Mer opened a formal investigation into the three deaths. The investigation was initiated for involuntary homicide and endangerment charges related to the overcrowded boat incident.
Taxi-boat crossing technique used for clandestine English Channel transit
Migrant smugglers employ a high-risk technique called 'taxi-boat' crossings to transport people across the English Channel. The method involves boats approaching from seaward along the coast and picking up migrants directly from the water to avoid law enforcement positioned on shore. This technique has been used multiple times in the Pas-de-Calais department, with six such operations recorded since the beginning of 2026, including one on the morning of September 28.
Three migrants die during clandestine English Channel crossing near Wissant
Three people died on September 28, 2026, during an attempted clandestine crossing of the English Channel near Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais region. The victims were two women in their thirties and a child approximately ten years old, likely Eritrean. A boat carrying 105 passengers departed from Sangatte around 5:15 AM and issued a distress call around 8:00 AM when approximately six kilometers offshore. The French maritime rescue vessel Ridens recovered all passengers. The victims were reportedly crushed in the overcrowded boat during the incident.
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2 alternative perspectives
Channel crossings drop 40 percent as enforcement intensifies
Channel crossings decline 40 percent in 2026 as enforcement operations intensify across the corridor.
France dismantles 13 smuggling networks operating in Channel crossing corridor
France dismantles 13 smuggling networks using taxi-boat techniques for Channel crossings.
Investigation launched after three migrants die in Channel crossing
Three migrants die in Channel crossing; death toll reaches 22 for 2026, triggering investigation.