French Coastguards Rescue 173 Migrant After Boat Catches Fire In English Channel

Published 4 August 2026 · europe

News world French Coastguards Rescue 173 Migrant After Boat Catches Fire In English Channel French Coastguards Rescue 173 Migrant After Boat Catches Fire In English

News world French Coastguards Rescue 173 Migrant After Boat Catches Fire In English Channel French Coastguards Rescue 173 Migrant After Boat Catches Fire In English Channel Published By, Last Updated: August 04, 2026, 23:04 IST French authorities said the boat caught fire on the boundary between French and British waters, forcing those on board to jump into the sea. Migrants disembark from the French rescue ship Minck following their rescue at sea after their boat caught fire during an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to Britain. (AFP photo) French coastguards rescued 157 migrants after a small boat caught fire in the English Channel near the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer on Tuesday, in one of the biggest rescue operations linked to Channel crossings since records began in 2018. French authorities said the boat caught fire on the boundary between French and British waters, forcing those on board to jump into the sea.

Three French coastguard vessels were sent to the scene and safely brought everyone to shore. Later on Tuesday, French maritime authorities updated the rescue figure to 173 people, revising an earlier count of 157. Rescue official Thierry Darras said several people suffered minor burns, bruises and grazes, but no serious injuries were reported. A so-called “mega dinghy" reportedly carrying around 160 migrants caught fire in the English Channel this morning after its engine burst into flames.French rescue teams, the UK Coastguard and the RNLI responded to the emergency, with the vessel still in French waters. The… pic.twitter.com/wQsxvr1dAs — Kiera Diss (@KieraDiss) August 4, 2026 The migrants had left the coastal village of Veules-les-Roses in Normandy on Monday, according to French maritime authorities. UK joins rescue effort The British coastguard said UK vessels and a lifeboat also helped with the emergency after the fire broke out in French waters.

The Royal Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said it launched a lifeboat at around 6am to support the operation. The latest rescue came just days after three people died while attempting to cross the Channel in a small boat. The English Channel remains one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, with strong currents adding to the danger. Migrants often pay smugglers large sums of money to board overcrowded inflatable boats in the hope of reaching Britain. French authorities say the number of people travelling on each small boat has risen sharply in recent years. The average has increased from 26 passengers in 2021 to around 65 this year, with some boats carrying well over 100 people. So far this year, 14,526 migrants have reached the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats, according to British authorities. More than 41,000 people made the journey last year, the second-highest annual total since 2018.