Migrant boat fire in English Channel live: '157 rescued' in coastguard operation
A major rescue operation unfolded in the English Channel this morning after a crowded migrant dinghy caught fire while attempting to cross into British waters. A total of 157 people were rescued by British and French coastguard teams, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Border Security Command vessels, with no fatalities reported at this stage. The incident, which occurred around 6am on Tuesday, August 4, saw occupants forced to jump into the water as the vessel's engine caught fire at the border between French and British waters.
The rescue unfolds
The dinghy, which had departed from the Veules-les-Roses area near Dieppe early in the morning, was monitored by French authorities from the outset. France's Maritime Prefecture said that five people aboard were initially rescued during the crossing and taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer before the main incident occurred. As the vessel continued its journey, its engine caught fire while still in a French search and rescue region, and the boat's integrity deteriorated very rapidly.
The CROSS Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre immediately broadcast a mayday relay message and deployed available resources to the area. French vessels including the Argonaute and Minck, along with the French Sea Rescue Society from Dieppe, responded to the emergency. British Border Security Command ship the BSC Contender helped support the French operation. Eastbourne's all-weather lifeboat launched at 6am on Tuesday to assist in the rescue effort. Those rescued were brought to safety and taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer where they were attended to by emergency services.
According to French media reports, several individuals are being treated for hypothermia, although it remains unclear whether anyone has been seriously injured. A UK Government spokesperson said that British vessels supported the French search and rescue operation, adding: "This is a live rescue operation but at this stage there have been no fatalities reported. Those on board will be safely returned to France."
One of the largest crossings on record
The number of people aboard the vessel makes it one of the biggest ever to attempt the crossing of the English Channel. A maritime security specialist told GB News that it represents a miracle that no deaths have been confirmed. They said: "This was a massive rescue effort by both the British and French working together at speed. Multiple Border Security Command vessels alongside the RNLI and their French counterparts were able to pull these people to safety in a relatively short period of time. Quite frankly it's miraculous that no one has died although searches in the area have been continuing."
The scale of this morning's rescue reflects a troubling trend. Last month, 165 migrants are said to have arrived in the UK aboard a single vessel, a 13-metre boat. Border Security Command was spotted towing that dinghy into Dover on 24 July. The use of so-called mega dinghies has been reported to be rising steadily in recent months.
Official response
Justice Secretary Alex Norris commented on the incident, saying the fire demonstrated the dangerous nature of these crossings and the disregard traffickers have for migrants' lives. Speaking to reporters, he said: "It's a very visible reminder both of the dangerous nature of those crossings and also of the blind indifference that human traffickers have for life on those boats. I'm pleased with the work that we're doing with France. That's reduced 46,000 preventions already this year."
A Home Office spokesman described the crossing as a stark reminder to criminal gangs, stating: "The reality is clear and lives are being lost in the Channel." The statement reflected the government's concerns about the continuing crossings and the dangers migrants face at sea.
The joint rescue operation follows increased cooperation between the UK and France in responding to attempted Channel crossings. The two countries recently agreed to a significant deal aimed at preventing crossings into the UK, with France deploying additional resources including drones and helicopters as part of a system to intercept people smugglers and illegal migrants.