PARIS -- Eight migrants died while attempting to cross the English Channel from France between Saturday night and Sunday morning, France's Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said on Sunday.

Besides the 8 deaths, six other people were found in relative critical conditions, the French news channel BFMTV reported, citing Jacques Billant, prefect of France's northern department of Pas-de-Calais.

According to Billant, a boat carrying 59 migrants was seen shortly before midnight near the town of Ambleteuse, Pas-de-Calais.

France's Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said on Saturday that they had rescued some 200 people who were tempted to cross the English Channel Friday night.

On Sept 3, at least 12 people died while attempting to cross the English Channel from France.

The region around Calais in northern France is the starting point for the shortest sea crossing to the United Kingdom (UK).

According to British government figures, between Sept 7 and 13 this year, a total of 412 irregular migrants attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats without permission to enter the UK.

During a visit to France last month by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the two countries affirmed their desire to boost cooperation on illegal migration in the Channel, particularly in relation to human trafficking rings.