More than 100 migrants were rescued trying to cross the English Channel over Christmas, officials said

French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants who were trying to cross the English Channel from France to England on Wednesday.

In the run-up to Christmas Day, 12 rescue operations were planned on the coast of northern France, including a boat with engine problems, the French Channel and the North Sea Maritime Prefecture said in a statement.

In the morning, 30 passengers were rescued from a boat near Dunkirk, while others on board wished to remain in British custody once they reached British waters, maritime authorities said.

Another boat with engine damage was seen later in the day, also near Dunkirk, and all 51 passengers were rescued.

Later, 26 people were rescued from the boat which was in difficulty near Calais.

The station is “a very dangerous place, especially in winter due to dangerous and overcrowded boats,” the statement said.

At least 73 are immigrants they died trying to cross Channel to Britain this year, according to Pas-de-Calais authorities, making 2024 the worst year in the history of the crossing.

Tens of thousands more have reached Britain, where the government has vowed to crack down on people-trafficking.

In November, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for greater international cooperation against gangs, which he described as “a global security threat similar to terrorism.”