- A migrant boat caught fire in the English Channel
- Rescue teams saved all 157 people on board
- No deaths or injuries were reported
More than 150 migrants have been rescued after the boat carrying them towards the United Kingdom caught fire in the English Channel on Tuesday, French maritime authorities have confirmed.
According to the French maritime prefecture for the Channel and North Sea, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the vessel departed the French coast on Monday night before its engine caught fire while en route to the UK.
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Authorities said all 157 people aboard were safely rescued and are being transported to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. No deaths or injuries were reported.
French officials disclosed that five migrants initially required assistance during the overnight journey, but many of those on board declined rescue efforts, insisting on continuing their voyage despite warnings from emergency responders.
The authorities explained that the fragile condition of the overcrowded boat made an immediate intervention risky, forcing rescue teams to monitor the situation until conditions became critical.
When the vessel’s engine later caught fire and its structure rapidly deteriorated, French and British rescue services launched a joint emergency operation.
Two French rescue boats evacuated 103 migrants, while British Border Force vessels, supported by the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat, rescued the remaining 54 passengers.
The UK government confirmed that its Border Security Command was alerted after the migrant boat encountered difficulties in French waters and that British rescue teams assisted in the operation.
Officials described the incident as another reminder of the dangers associated with irregular Channel crossings, stressing that cooperation between the UK, France and other international partners remains focused on preventing such risky journeys.
The rescue came a day after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed his government’s commitment to tackling illegal migration, promising intensified efforts to reduce small boat crossings.
Migration has again become a major political issue in the UK following recent increases in Channel crossings and renewed debate over border security.
Government figures indicate that more than 2,000 migrants have reached the UK by small boats since Burnham assumed office two weeks ago, although overall crossings this year remain lower than during the same period in 2025.
The UK and France continue to implement a multi-year security agreement aimed at disrupting human smuggling networks through increased policing, surveillance technology and enhanced border patrols along the French coastline.
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