More than 21,000 people have crossed the English Channel on small boats so far this year (Picture: AFP)
Eight people are feared to have died while trying to cross the English Channel, according to French authorities.
Their small boat had issued a mayday after getting into difficulty off the coast of France, in the commune of Ambleteuse near Calaise, before they died.
Jacques Billant, the Pas de Calais prefect, put the provision death toll at eight, saying: ‘Several migrants lost their lives.
‘A zodiac craft carrying around 50 people ran aground.’
No further information is known about the passengers, or if there were any survivors.
Roughly 200 people were saved by the French authorities off the coast of Calais in a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday night.
This includes one boat carrying 55 migrants, all of whom survived after being rescued in poor conditions at sea near Le Portel.
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