Tragedy in the Channel: Migrant Dies, Seven Burned as Dozens Flee to UK in Fiery Boat Horror
A Tragic event happened early Monday morning when a group of migrants tried to cross the English Channel in a small boat to reach the UK. One person sadly died, and seven others were badly injured, including some who suffered severe burns.
There were about 60 people on board, including men, women, and children, when a fire broke out on the boat. The fire is believed to have started because of a faulty outboard motor, which was part of the equipment provided by people smugglers.
Two rescue boats, named Abeille Normandie (which means Normandy Bee) and Thénis, were sent out and managed to bring everyone back to shore in Le Portel, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, around 3am.
Firefighters and emergency teams rushed to help the victims. Two young men from Somalia, aged 20 and 26, were badly burned in the fire. Unfortunately, the man who died has not been identified yet, and his age and country of origin are still unknown.
Two women from Eritrea, aged 35 and 28, were also rescued, but they were suffering from severe hypothermia due to the cold sea water. Three others, including a child, also showed signs of hypothermia. All those rescued were either treated at the scene or taken to hospital for urgent care.
The accident happened during a time when many migrants were attempting to cross the Channel because of calm weather and low winds, which made the dangerous journey seem more manageable. Officials said it was a weekend full of “intense activity” on the migrant route.
So far this year, over 10 people have died trying to reach Britain in small boats. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into this latest death, and police are now trying to track down the smugglers responsible for arranging the crossing.
In total, 78 migrants died during attempted crossings in 2024 – the highest number since these risky journeys in small boats began in 2018.
Earlier this year, in January, a Syrian man became the first migrant to die in 2025 while attempting to reach the UK. He was crushed on an overcrowded boat.
In April 2024, another investigation was opened after five people, including a young girl, died while trying to reach the UK near Wimereux, close to Calais.
The deadliest incident happened in November 2021, when 27 people drowned after their dinghy sank – the worst tragedy of its kind so far.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau spoke out strongly about these heartbreaking events, saying that the government would step up efforts to stop the criminal gangs making money by organising these dangerous crossings.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have promised to work more closely together to stop the smugglers, but many people say they still haven’t done enough.
Just last month, it was revealed that more than 10,000 people have already crossed the Channel in small boats this year alone – about 40% more than the same time last year.
