Two women believed to be from Sudan have died while trying to cross from northern France to the United Kingdom in a small boat, French officials said on Sunday.

The women, thought to be in their 20s, were on board a vessel carrying 82 people, according to Christophe Marx, a regional government official. The boat set out overnight Saturday to Sunday but “the engine wouldn’t start” and it began to drift.

Seventeen people were rescued at sea and taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The boat with the remaining 65 people eventually ran aground on a beach near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, about 12 km south of Boulogne. The victims were found “dead inside the boat,” Marx said, likely “crushed or asphyxiated” due to overcrowding.

Thirteen people with moderate injuries and three with serious wounds, including burns, were hospitalized. They will be interviewed by border police to determine who organized the crossing, Marx added.

The deaths highlight ongoing challenges for Britain and France in curbing small boat crossings, as immigration concerns boost support for far-right parties like Reform UK and France’s National Rally. At least 29 people have died at sea in the region in 2025, according to an AFP tally.

Last month, Britain agreed to pay France up to £660 million ($895.8 million) under a three-year border security deal. France will increase coastal patrols, while Britain will boost its financial contribution to the operation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com