Record number of migrants aboard a single small boat cross the English Channel
A small vessel carrying 230 migrants reached the United Kingdom, setting a new record for the most people on one boat during a Channel crossing.
The boat arrived on Saturday, part of a total of 258 migrants who made the journey on four vessels that day. The 230 passengers surpass the previous high of 165 set in July. Officials from the Home Office said the incident highlights the dangerous tactics of criminal smuggling networks that overload unseaworthy craft.
Why it matters
It shows the growing scale and danger of people-smuggling operations across the Channel.
In this story
English Channelmigrantsrecord crossingsmall boatHome Officepeople smugglingunseaworthy vessels