Two women die in Channel crossing attempt from France to Britain

May 3, 2026 5:49 AM EDT

PARIS, May ‌3 (Reuters) - Two ​women ​died after a boat carrying about 80 migrants trying ‌to cross to Britain from France ⁠capsized near Calais, the local French ‌administration said on Sunday.

"We ‌regret to say that we found two people, two women, who ​had died," said Christophe Marx, an official for the Pas-de-Calais administration, ⁠adding that authorities had rescued the others.

The deaths ​highlight the difficulties faced by Britain and France over tackling ​small boats transporting migrants ‌illegally across the English Channel, while concerns over immigration ⁠numbers have driven up support for parties such as Reform UK and ⁠France's National Rally (RN) party.

Last month, Britain said it ​would pay France up to 660 million pounds ($895.8 million) under a three-year border ‌security deal to try to clamp down on illegal migrant ‌crossings of the Channel, with ⁠part of the ‌funding contingent ​on results.

($1 = 0.7368 pounds)

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing by William ‌Maclean)



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