More than 150 migrants were rescued in the English Channel after their boat's engine caught fire during an attempted crossing to the UK, with French and British rescue vessels taking part in the operation.
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Key facts
- A migrant boat caught fire while attempting to cross the Channel to the UK.
- French authorities said the vessel's engine caught fire.
- Rescue boats from both France and the UK took part in the operation.
- More than 150 people were evacuated, with later reports citing more than 170.
- The UK government says all the migrants will be returned to France.
More than 150 migrants were rescued in the English Channel after the boat they were travelling in caught fire during an attempted crossing to the UK, according to reports from the BBC and Al Jazeera.
The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to French authorities cited by the BBC.
Rescue boats from both France and the UK took part in the operation to evacuate passengers from the vessel, Al Jazeera reported.
Initial reports put the number of those rescued at more than 150. Later coverage by the BBC raised the figure to more than 170 migrants.
The UK government says all of the migrants, who were attempting to cross to the UK, will be returned to France, according to the BBC.
The sources did not report the nationalities of those on board, whether anyone was injured, the exact time of the incident, or its precise location within the Channel.
Why it matters
The English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping routes and a frequent site of dangerous small-boat crossings. Incidents like a boat fire highlight the risks migrants face and the ongoing cross-border cooperation and policy debates between the UK and France.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were rescued from the boat?
Initial reports said more than 150 people were rescued, while later BBC coverage put the figure at more than 170 migrants.
Why did the boat need rescuing?
French authorities said the boat's engine caught fire while it was attempting to cross the Channel to the UK, according to the BBC.
What will happen to the rescued migrants?
The UK government says all of the migrants will be returned to France, according to the BBC.
Timeline
- More than 170 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel
BBC World: The government says all of the migrants, who were attempting to cross to the UK, will be returned to France.
- More than 150 people rescued in English Channel after boat catches fire
Al Jazeera: Rescue boats from both France and the UK took part in the operation to evacuate passengers from the stricken vessel.
- More than 150 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel
BBC World: The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to French authorities.