A record 230 migrants in a single small boat crossed the English Channel towards Britain, French rescue services and British media reported on Monday. This is another example of how an increasing number of people are being transported on a single vessel.
Among the 230 migrants were more than 20 children. They were counted on board an inflatable boat as it departed from the northeastern coast of France late Sunday evening amid chaotic conditions, according to a statement from the SNSM rescue service published online. This number exceeded the previous record for a single boat set last month when 165 people successfully crossed the English Channel. On Monday, SNSM called it “a new and sad record for the number of people being transported on these unreliable boats.”
Increase in crossings and government response
Last week, a boat heading to Britain carrying more than 150 people capsized in the English Channel after its engine caught fire, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation. During the latest record crossing, French rescue boats escorted the inflatable boat to British waters, where they were relieved by British services, Jean-Marc Lamblen, director of the local SNSM branch, told AFP. According to him, the inflatable boat was about 15 meters long.
“Over the past three months, we have seen more and more” of these 15-meter boats, Lamblen added. “We recently exceeded the record of 150 people and did not think there could be more, but now it seems there are no limits.”
The UK Home Office, which did not confirm the exact number of people on board the boat, condemned “the reckless and dangerous tactics used by criminal groups organizing these crossings.” A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was “shocking” to see “horrific images… of small children being put into these unseaworthy vessels.” He added that these images “show the reality of ruthless smuggling gangs willing to risk human lives for profit.”
UK strategy and latest figures
Britain is trying to find a way to reduce dangerous and politically contentious crossings of the English Channel, which have seen tens of thousands of migrants arrive on the shores of southeastern England in recent years. After coming to power in 2024, the center-left Labour Party made it a goal to “smash the gangs” organizing these crossings, including by increasing cooperation with France.
In April, London signed a new three-year agreement with Paris to combat English Channel crossings, agreeing to pay up to 766 million euros to strengthen French law enforcement.
The British government claims its strategy is working, noting that the number of migrants arriving in small boats in the first half of 2026 has fallen by more than 42% compared to the same period last year — to just over 14,000 people. However, there has been a surge in recent weeks: on July 29, a daily record for the year was set when 752 people crossed the English Channel.
Source: Euronews
