THREE DIE, INCLUDING CHILD, AS BOAT CARRYING 105 GETS INTO DIFFICULTY

A 10-year-old child and two women died, and dozens more were injured, when a boat carrying 105 people got into difficulty while attempting to cross the Channel to the UK on Monday, French authorities said. France's maritime police said they received a distress call from the vessel off the northern French coast. An emergency medical team flown out by helicopter treated three passengers, who were later confirmed dead. A local prefecture spokesperson said sea conditions were calm at the time. Rescue boats searched for people in the water for hours, and survivors were later brought ashore at Calais.

The prefecture described the vessel as a "water taxi" that arrives largely empty before collecting passengers from a beach. One report placed the pick-up point at Wissant, in the Pas-de-Calais, while another said the boat had left from Bleriot Plage, near Calais. French authorities said three other people died in similar departures last week. At least 17 people have died this year attempting to reach the UK across the Channel. Official figures suggest more than 18,500 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, over 40% fewer than in the same period of 2025.

Days before the latest deaths, the UK recorded its highest number of small boat arrivals so far this year, with 781 people arriving in ten boats, according to Home Office figures. France and the UK agreed a "one in, one out" returns deal in July, intended to deter crossings. The UK government said in August it needed to "push further and harder in order to eradicate this vile trade". Last week also saw two uncontrolled landings on the UK coast, where boats arrived without being intercepted.