French authorities rescued more than 6,000 migrants attempting to reach Britain in small boats last year, while 25 people died and two remain missing, the maritime prefecture said Friday in its annual report.
France has long been a launchpad for migrants hoping to cross the Channel and start a better life in Britain, where the centre-left Labour government is under pressure from the anti-immigration hard right to curb arrivals.
Despite the dangers, attempts to make the perilous journey in flimsy craft have "not slowed down", said France's maritime prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea (PREMAR).
Nearly 50,000 people aboard 795 boats attempted to cross the Channel from France to the United Kingdom in 2025, according to the report.
French authorities rescued 6,177 people, while 25 died, it said.Â
An AFP tally based on official French and British sources puts the total death toll at at least 29.
In its report, PREMAR warned that smugglers were exposing migrants to ever greater risks.
The number of people per boat continues to increase, the report said, rising from an average of 26 in 2021 to 63 in 2025 -- with 10 boats that year having carried more than 100 people.
The authorities have also seen the continued use of so-called "taxi boats", which leave shore discreetly and almost empty before picking up dozens of migrants wading into shallow waters.
The British authorities recorded 41,472 small-boat arrivals in 2025, the second-highest total after a record 45,774 in 2022.
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...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY...
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills
as low as zero to 5 above. For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds
15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* WHERE...Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Dallas, Etowah, Fayette,
Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Perry,
Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and
Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Extreme Cold Warning, until noon CST Sunday. For
the Wind Advisory, until 9 PM CST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frostbite
and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these
temperatures. An extended period of subfreezing temperatures could
cause pipes to burst.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
&&
...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY...
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills
as low as zero to 5 above. For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds
15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* WHERE...Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Dallas, Etowah, Fayette,
Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Lowndes, Marengo, Marion, Perry,
Pickens, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and
Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Extreme Cold Warning, until noon CST Sunday. For
the Wind Advisory, until 9 PM CST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Trees
could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Frostbite
and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these
temperatures. An extended period of subfreezing temperatures could
cause pipes to burst.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles. Use extra caution.
Secure outdoor objects.
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
&&
Currently in Selma
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1 PM
30°
2 PM
30°
3 PM
31°
4 PM
31°
5 PM
29°
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.