According to local French authorities, the migrants were on board a small boat that sank south of Calais.
The number of people attempting to reach the UK by sea has increased over the past three years. Last year, just over 41,000 migrants arrived in small boats. However, in the first months of 2026, the number fell by around a third compared with the same period last year.
According to the BBC, more difficult weather conditions may be behind the decrease.
