Exact number of victims not yet known as officials say 200 people were rescued in 24 hours over Friday and Saturday

French officials escorting a vessel earlier this month.

Several people have died overnight trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French regional authorities have said, less than two weeks after the deadliest such disaster this year.

“Several migrants lost their lives,” the Pas-de-Calais prefecture said, without specifying the number of victims.

The regional prefect, Jacques Billant, was to hold a news conference at 10am local time (9am BST), his office said.

Maritime authorities said on Saturday there had been numerous attempts to make the perilous crossing in small boats in recent days, with 200 people rescued in 24 hours over Friday and Saturday alone.

At least 12 people died off the northern French coast when their boat carrying dozens of people capsized this month.

It was the deadliest such disaster this year, and 25 people had already died on crossings, up from 12 in 2023.

The French and British governments have sought for years to stop the flow of people who pay smugglers thousands of euros a head for the passage to England from France aboard small boats.

More than 22,000 migrants have arrived in England by crossing the Channel since the beginning of this year, according to British officials.