Boat carrying 157 passengers catches fire in English Channel

A fire broke out on a boat carrying 157 passengers in the English Channel, resulting in a rescue operation involving three coastguard ships and eight English and French rescue boats. The fire, believed to have been caused by a fuel leak from the boat's outboard motor, rapidly deteriorated the vessel's structure. Despite five people being rescued earlier, the remaining passengers initially refused assistance due to the boat's condition.

However, the rescue intensified as the boat's integrity continued to deteriorate rapidly. This incident occurred the day after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to reduce the number of people crossing the Channel on small boats. In the past week, four asylum seekers died in separate incidents while attempting to cross the Channel.

The French authorities have intercepted boats and disrupted their supply chains, leading to an increase in the number of passengers per boat as traffickers aim to maximize profits.