Politics
Record 128 migrants cross English Channel in single boat as overall crossings fall sharply
July 13, 2026 at 06:30 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 99 hours
A small boat carrying 128 migrants crossed the English Channel on Friday, setting a new record for the largest single-vessel crossing.
- 128 migrants crossed the Channel on one boat on Friday, surpassing the previous record of 125 set in September 2025.
- A total of 225 migrants crossed that day on three boats, according to UK Home Office data.
- The Home Office reported that 11,884 migrants have crossed the Channel in the first half of 2026, a decline of 41–44% compared to the same period in 2025.
- A Home Office spokesperson said smuggling gangs are cramming more people into unseaworthy boats, taking greater risks than ever.