Sele Media Africa Reported by Mafeng Gyang Adams
Two Migrants Die Attempting Channel Crossing from France to UK
Calais, France – September 28, 2025 French authorities have confirmed that two migrants died overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom. The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, with officials saying the migrants were part of a larger group trying to make the dangerous journey in an overcrowded boat.According to France’s Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea, around 60 other migrants were rescued during the operation. Emergency teams responded after receiving distress calls just off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. “Two individuals were found unconscious and could not be revived despite efforts by emergency responders,” the prefecture said in a statement. (Source: AFP, Le Monde, Reuters)
This latest incident adds to the growing number of migrant deaths in the Channel — a perilous route that continues to see record attempts despite warnings from both French and British authorities. Just this year alone, over 25,000 migrants have attempted the crossing, with multiple fatalities reported due to capsized boats, hypothermia, or mechanical failure. (Source: BBC News, France 24)
The tragedy has reignited debate over immigration policies and border security between France and the UK. British Home Secretary James Cartlidge described the deaths as “deeply saddening” and called for “tougher action against smuggling networks.”French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin echoed the sentiment, stating: “These smugglers are putting lives at risk daily. We must step up cross-border cooperation to dismantle their operations.” (Source: The Guardian, France Info)
Aid groups, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Utopia 56, have criticized both governments for failing to provide safe migration alternatives, accusing them of prioritizing deterrence over human lives.
Sele Media Africa will continue to monitor developments and humanitarian responses following this tragic incident.
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