More than 200 migrants arrived in the UK, as a man died after a boat deflated in the English Channel.
Some 225 people arrived in four boats on Sunday, bringing the number of arrivals so far this year to nearly 30,000 people, according to the latest Home Office data.
A man died the same day after a boat deflated in the Channel, French authorities said.
The man, who was Indian and aged about 40, was in a boat which left from the town of Tardinghen in northern France at 5.30am, the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais said.
The boat quickly deflated and the people on board swam back to the beach, the authorities added.
Emergency services tried to help the man, but he died at the scene.
So far this year, 49 deaths have been reported by the French coastguard.
After three people died in the Channel last Wednesday, refugee organisations said deaths have become “appallingly regular” and that they should not be normalised or accepted.
A Home Office spokesman said they will “stop at nothing” to dismantle the business models of people-smuggling gangs.
A total of 29,867 people have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel, according to Home Office figures.
The number is 12% higher than at the same point in 2023 (26,605) and 22% lower than in 2022 (38,435).
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel