Boat carrying 173 burns, capsizes in English Channel

More than 170 migrants were pulled to safety from the English Channel seaway on Tuesday when the boat ferrying them caught fire and capsized.

Authorities from both France and the United Kingdom were involved in the rescue operation, which they said ranked among the biggest of its kind since 2018.

While inside France's search-and-rescue area, the inflatable's engine caught fire and the vessel began to come apart, forcing those on board to jump into the water, according to the French maritime prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea.

French authorities sent two rescue vessels, a navy helicopter, and medical teams, and British rescue boats, including from the UK Border Force, also joined the operation, Agence France-Presse reported.

It was originally reported that 157 migrants were rescued, but this was later revised to 173. There were no fatalities. All of those rescued were taken ashore for medical care at Boulogne-sur-Mer in France, with 11 suffering from minor injuries.

The headcount in the vessel exceeded the previous record of 165 who reached the UK late last month aboard a 13-meter boat described by British media as a "mega-dinghy". The previous record number of migrants in a single vessel, set earlier last month, was 128.

The craft had departed from the Normandy coastal village of Veulesles-Roses overnight and was monitored by French rescue services from the outset.

French officials said they initially chose not to force the migrants to board rescue vessels so as to "avoid endangering their lives". According to French maritime authorities, many on makeshift, overloaded boats decline rescue unless facing immediate danger. Forcing migrants off boats risks capsizing them, meaning rescuers generally do not compel them to leave.

French prosecutors have launched an investigation and an Egyptian national has been placed in police custody in connection with the incident, the BBC reported.

According to UK Border Security Minister Anna Turley, the incident "shows the dangers of these illegal crossings and the ruthless gangs behind them".

"That's why we are bearing down on them," she said.

A UK government spokesperson said: "This incident underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings. We continue to work relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys."

The average number of people on board these boats has risen from 26 in 2021 to 65 so far this year, officials said. In recent weeks, observers have reported larger boats — about 12 meters long versus the usual 8 to 10 meters, AFP reported.

Last week, two separate crossing attempts left four people dead. So far this year, at least 14 have died — compared with at least 29 in all of last year — according to French and UK sources.

According to UK government figures, crossings so far this year are down by about 43 percent compared with the same period last year. The total peaked in 2022. July 29 was this year's busiest day for crossings so far, with 752 migrants reaching the UK.