Migrant Boat Fire Sparks Large Channel Rescue
A boat carrying migrants caught fire on Tuesday. It was crossing the English Channel between France and England.
The fire caused the boat to sink or deflate. People on board had to jump into the water.
French boats and two British Border Security Command boats helped. A Royal National Lifeboat Institution boat also joined the rescue.
Rescuers pulled 157 migrants from the water. It was one of the largest such rescues since 2018.
Some rescued migrants were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. Reports say five migrants were rescued from the same boat overnight Monday.
French authorities helped them hours before the main rescue. The boat had left from near Boulogne-sur-Mer on Monday.
Coastguards were watching it at the time. Reports say a fuel leak from the motor caused the fire.
This reportedly caused panic on board. There are no reports of deaths in this incident.
A separate crossing on July 30 killed four migrants. New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham had promised a strong crackdown on Channel crossings two days earlier.
Key Terms 3
- English Channel Narrow sea between England and France often crossed by migrants in small boats.
- Border Security Command UK agency that patrols borders and stops illegal crossings.
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution UK charity that rescues people in trouble at sea.