French coastguard rescues over 100 migrants crossing English Channel

The French coastguard rescued 106 migrants from a single boat that broke down during an attempt to cross the English Channel.

The migrants were taken to Calais in the early hours of Sunday morning after the vessel was reported on Saturday.

Authorities initially assisted seven people who were in difficulty while boarding the boat near Wimereux, including a woman who lost consciousness and required evacuation by helicopter.

In a separate incident, six additional migrants were rescued, bringing the total number of rescues in recent events to 119.

The English Channel is one of the busiest maritime areas globally, with challenging weather conditions such as strong winds, currents, and cold water temperatures that pose significant risks to those attempting crossings.

The French Coast Guard emphasized the dangers of the area, noting that life expectancy in winter waters can be just a few minutes.

This rescue operation follows a recent £662 million agreement between the UK and France aimed at preventing migrant crossings.

The deal includes deploying riot-trained police to northern French beaches to stop migrants from boarding small boats and plans to remove hundreds of migrants annually from French shores for deportation.

Between January 1 and April 22, 2026, over 6,000 people crossed the Channel by small boat, marking a 37% decrease compared to the previous year.

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