Two Migrants Die Attempting English Channel Crossing

Two men died off the French coast while attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain late Sunday, according to French authorities. The incident occurred near the northern town of Berck.

Two women, aged 20 and 26, suffered burns over large areas of their bodies and were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Reports indicate that the burns were caused by a chemical reaction from gasoline mixing with seawater.

A boat carrying 120 people set off on Sunday night, leaving about 20 migrants stranded in the water. Rescuers recovered the two men who were in cardiac arrest, along with the injured women.

French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the deaths. This tragedy adds to the growing toll of migrant deaths at the Franco-British maritime border, with at least 24 fatalities recorded since the beginning of the year.

France remains a key staging area for asylum seekers aiming to cross to Britain, often relying on smugglers for dangerous journeys across busy shipping routes.