French local authorities have reported that four individuals lost their lives when a small vessel sank in the English Channel, which separates France from Britain.

In a statement released on Thursday, officials in Calais noted, “A sinking incident involving a taxi-boat occurred today. The situation is currently under evaluation and may change as more information becomes available.”

Over the past year, smugglers have increasingly utilized small boats to navigate the northern coastlines of France and Belgium, where they pick up migrants from the shore. These boats are commonly referred to as “taxi-boats” by officials.

Data from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford indicates that approximately 2,200 refugees and migrants made the perilous journey across the Channel, one of the busiest shipping routes globally, to reach the UK in the first two months of 2026. Last year, around 41,500 individuals completed the crossing.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.