Many of the migrants faced perilous conditions, with overcrowded boats taking on water and others struggling during the boarding process.

Earlier on June 12, a drifting boat without a motor was spotted, leading to the successful rescue of three individuals aboard.

As weather conditions worsened, including an orange alert for thunderstorms in the Pas-de-Calais region, nine more migrants were rescued from another boat later that evening.

A notable rescue operation on June 13 involved a boat near Dunkirk taking on water, where a public service patrol vessel saved 63 people, while 16 others initially refused assistance but were later rescued by two additional vessels.

Tragically, since the beginning of 2025, at least 15 migrants have died in the Channel, continuing a concerning trend from 2024, which recorded 78 fatalities amid the rise of dangerous crossings that began in 2018.

The night of June 12 to 13 saw a significant increase in migrant crossings, with British authorities reporting 919 successful crossings across 14 boats on June 13 alone.

Over a 24-hour period from June 12 to 13, 2025, a hundred migrants were rescued in the English Channel, as reported by the Maritime Prefecture of the Manche and North Sea (Premar).

Of these rescues, 99 individuals were saved while attempting to cross the Channel in clandestine boats.