More than 150 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel, French authorities say
French and British rescuers brought 157 people to safety after the boat’s engine caught fire, with no injuries reported.
- On Tuesday, a rescue operation launched around 6am in French waters after a dinghy carrying approximately 160 migrants caught fire. French and British coastguards, alongside RNLI Eastbourne, rescued 157 people and transported them to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
- Nigel Farage on Monday proposed "Operation Fortress," urging the Navy to intercept small boats and return them to France. The French government rejected the plan as a "violation of French sovereignty," highlighting diplomatic friction over Channel migration.
- Despite this incident, 2026 Channel crossings total 14,526, representing 43 per cent lower arrivals than at this point last year. The vessel involved carried 160 people, nearing the record 165 migrants recorded in July.
- Searches in the area continue, though officials report no fatalities among the 157 survivors. Responders stated, "Quite frankly, it's miraculous that no one has died," as eleven vessels assisted the major operation.
- The Prime Minister insisted the Government is "changing the whole approach" to small boat crossings. Burnham vowed his government would be "relentless" in reducing arrivals by targeting people-smuggling gangs operating on both sides of the Channel.
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161 Articles
French coast guard teams rescued 173 migrants after a fire broke out in the engine of a boat carrying them across the English Channel to England. French police have detained one person in connection with the incident.
Labour’s Channel Crisis Escalates as Massive Migrant Boat Catches Fire and Sinks.
A major rescue operation saved 157 migrants after a massive dinghy caught fire and sank in the English Channel, highlighting Britain’s ongoing challenges with illegal crossings.PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: A major air and sea rescue operation unfolded in the English Channel early Tuesday after a massive migrant dinghy caught fire and sank, sending 157 illegal migrants into the water. British and French rescue vessels responded to a distress call …
More than 170 migrants rescued from burning boat in English Channel
LONDON — More than 170 people were rescued Tuesday after a fire broke out on the small boat they were using to attempt a dangerous crossing from France to Britain, which has become a popular route for migrants from elsewhere and a contentious political issue.
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