Channel: two dead and two seriously injured during an attempted crossing
Four hundred and five exiles were collected by emergency services this Monday on the coast of Pas-de-Calais.
Quick Look
- Two men died and two women were seriously burned during an attempted clandestine crossing of the Channel off the coast of Berck.
- In total, 405 exiles were rescued this Monday on the coast of Pas-de-Calais.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Clandestine crossings of the Channel by exiles trying to reach England are frequent and dangerous.
Two men died during an attempt to cross the Channel on the night of Sunday October 4 to Monday October 5, 2026, in Berck (Pas-de-Calais). Two women who suffered burns were also treated by emergency services. In total, 405 exiles were collected by emergency services in the morning on the coast of Pas-de-Calais.
A new drama on the coasts of Pas-de-Calais. While trying to reach England clandestinely, two men died off the coast of Berck (Pas-de-Calais) around midnight, on the night of Sunday October 4 to Monday October 5, 2026, indicates the Pas-de-Calais prefecture in a press release this Monday.
According to our information, an inflatable boat, with 120 people on board, set sail from Berck. Twenty exiles were taken care of by the SNSM star who noted the death of the two men. Among those rescued, two women aged 20 and 26, doused in gasoline. Presenting "burns over a large part of the body", they were treated by emergency services and transported to hospital in relative urgency, specifies the press release from the prefecture.
An investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office to determine the circumstances of the deaths, indicates the prefecture.
405 migrants collected in the morning
On the morning of Monday, October 5, the firefighters were again mobilized for two simultaneous aborted attempts to leave at Equihen-Plage and Hardelot. In total, 50 people, including ten children, who fell into the water were taken care of by Civil Protection at the Hardelot sailing base. A young pregnant 26-year-old woman was transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital.
A fire from an inflatable boat and three cans of gasoline also had to be extinguished shortly before 8 a.m. at the Hoverport tower in Portel.
In total, 405 migrants were collected this Monday morning by surveillance and rescue vessels on the coast of Pas-de-Calais. Also in the morning, the gendarmes observed in front of the residence the Corsairs of Hardelot, 140 migrants waiting on the sand for an inflatable boat for a new departure.
Since the start of the year, this brings the number of migrant deaths at sea on the Franco-British border to 24, according to an AFP count based on official sources. Last week, two women and a child aged around ten died following a shipwreck off the coast of Sangatte.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Judicial investigation to determine the circumstances of the deaths
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What are the exact identities of the victims?
- How did the fire on the inflatable boat start?
