Several people died overnight while trying to cross the Channel from France to Britain, local authorities in France said, less than two weeks after the deadliest disaster this year.
The Pas-de-Calais prefecture said “several migrants lost their lives” but did not give a figure for the casualties.
Regional Secretary Jacques Bien will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. BST), his office said.
Maritime authorities said Saturday there had been numerous attempts to make the dangerous crossing in small boats in recent days, with 200 people rescued in 24 hours on Friday and Saturday alone.
This month, at least 12 people were killed when a boat carrying dozens of people capsized off the coast of northern France.
This is the deadliest accident this year, with 25 people already killed at level crossings, up from 12 in 2023.
The French and British governments have tried for years to stem the influx of people who pay smugglers thousands of euros each to travel from France to Britain on small boats.
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British authorities say more than 22,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to reach England since the start of the year.
