French authorities announced that more than 150 migrants were rescued after the boat they were using to cross the English Channel caught fire on Tuesday morning. The boat was carrying migrants to the United Kingdom when its engine caught fire while attempting to cross the Channel from France.
French coastguards rescued 157 people from the vessel near the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, according to French authorities. Three coastguard vessels were involved in the operation and transported those rescued back to the French port. Reuters also reported that five other people from the same boat had been rescued several hours earlier.
The boat’s engine reportedly caught fire while it was in the Channel, creating a dangerous situation for those on board. Some people were forced to enter the water as rescue teams responded to the emergency. French and British authorities participated in the wider rescue effort.
Those brought back to Boulogne-sur-Mer were expected to receive medical assessment and assistance. At the time of initial reports, authorities had not confirmed any deaths or serious injuries resulting from the incident.
The incident has renewed attention on the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Britain in small boats, particularly as crossings through the English Channel remain a major political issue in the United Kingdom.
It came just a day after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged that his government would be “relentless” in efforts to reduce small-boat crossings and tackle the smuggling networks behind them. Speaking in Dover, Burnham also argued that safer routes for refugees were necessary to undermine the business model of trafficking gangs.
According to ITV, the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats was down by around 50% compared with the same period in 2025, while July recorded the lowest number of crossings for six years.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!