More than 150 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel
The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to French authorities.
More than 150 migrants were rescued after their boat caught fire while attempting to cross the English Channel, according to French authorities. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, with 157 people being taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer for treatment. No injuries or fatalities were reported. The boat had departed from France the previous night, and despite initial resistance from some migrants, all were eventually rescued due to the structural instability of the vessel.
French and UK rescue teams, including the RNLI and Border Force vessels, were deployed to assist in the operation. The UK Coastguard also reported that a vessel had caught fire earlier in the morning while in the French search and rescue region, and UK vessels and a lifeboat were providing assistance. The total number of small boat crossings to the UK from France in 2026, from January to August, was 14,526, a 43% decrease compared to the same period in 2025.
Small boat arrivals accounted for 42% of all asylum applications between April 2025 and March 2026, with an average of 67 people per boat. The UK government has pledged to address the issue, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham stating that enforcement officers tackling people-smuggling gangs have been doubled on both sides of the Channel.
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