At least three migrants are killed and dozens injured as mega-dinghy carrying 105 capsizes off Calais

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026.

At least three UK-bound migrants have died and dozens more are seriously injured after a mega-dinghy carrying around 105 people capsized in calm seas off Wissant, near Calais, early on Monday morning. The Pas-de-Calais prefecture confirmed "a provisional total of three deaths and many more injured," with six rescue boats still searching for survivors at 10.30am local time. The latest deaths bring the Channel toll to at least 24 this year, including women and children.

Smugglers are running "water taxi" boats — launched empty from river estuaries, then skirting the coast to pick up migrants rushed to the beach in private hire vehicles.

Launch points have now spread across more than 100 kilometres of French coastline as gangs dodge heavily funded patrols around Calais and Dunkirk.

Three migrants also died last week scrambling for places on a boat; French prosecutors have opened criminal enquiries into all of this year's tragedies.