Eight people have died overnight while attempting to cross the English Channel from France, according to French police. The tragedy occurred when a boat carrying around 50 people ran into trouble in waters north of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais region shortly after 1:00 AM local time.

The rubber vessel began sinking shortly after departing from the French coast. Rescue teams were alerted, but the boat was seen heading towards a beach in Ambleteuse, where maritime assistance was not possible. Once the boat reached the shore, emergency responders provided aid to 53 survivors and confirmed the deaths of eight individuals. No additional people were found during subsequent sea searches.

This tragedy comes just two weeks after another fatal incident in which 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, lost their lives when a boat sank in the Channel—the deadliest loss of life in the area this year.

An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office, and a UK government spokesperson confirmed that French authorities are leading the response and investigation.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his sorrow over the loss of life, calling the situation “awful” and highlighting the dangers posed by the fragile rubber dinghies used for such crossings. He reiterated the UK government’s commitment to working with European partners to combat people-smuggling gangs and deter dangerous Channel crossings.

The tragedy occurred during a period of increased attempts to cross the Channel due to calmer weather conditions. Over Friday and Saturday, French maritime authorities reported rescuing 200 people in multiple operations. Authorities monitored 18 attempted crossings throughout the day.