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.
French authorities reported that over 150 migrants were rescued on Tuesday morning after the vessel they were using to traverse the Channel caught fire.
The French maritime prefecture for the Channel and North Sea stated that the boat's engine ignited while it was attempting to reach the UK. A total of 157 individuals have been rescued and are currently en route to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
This incident occurred a day after Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowed that his administration would be "relentless" in its efforts to reduce the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats.
According to French authorities, the boat departed France on Monday night. The French maritime prefecture noted that overnight, "five people on board the vessel required rescue... the remaining people on board refused the assistance offered by the French patrol boats."
A statement from the prefecture explained, "Determined to reach the United Kingdom, migrants crossing the Channel in small boats refused assistance offered by French emergency service, accepting it only in situations of extreme emergency." Due to the "structural fragility" of the boats used for Channel crossings, authorities initially opted not to intervene further.
However, the engine caught fire this morning, leading to a "very rapid deterioration of the vessel's integrity."
Rescue operations involved boats from both France and the UK, including the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat and the UK Border Force vessels BSC Contender and BSC Courageous. French boats rescued 103 migrants, while British vessels rescued 54.
All rescued individuals are being transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer for medical attention, with an anticipated arrival time of 12:30 local time (11:30 BST) on Tuesday.
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