157 migrants were rescued from the English Channel today after their dinghy capsized following an engine fire, in a major multi-agency operation involving French and British vessels.
The boat got into trouble at around 6am, prompting a response from French ships, British Border Security Command boats, and an RNLI lifeboat. The migrants were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, with British vessels responsible for rescuing 54 of them.
Rescue Operation Details
The dinghy caught fire while in a French search and rescue region, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The French Maritime Prefecture said authorities first became aware of the vessel leaving the Veules-les-Roses area early in the morning and dispatched the French Sea Rescue Society (SNSM) from Dieppe, along with two vessels, the Argonaute and the Minck.
Five people were rescued initially, but the rest continued their journey until the engine fire forced an urgent intervention. The prefecture said: "Determined to reach the United Kingdom, the migrants making the crossing in precarious boats refused assistance offered by French resources and only accepted it in situations of extreme urgency."
"Given the structural fragility of the systematically overcrowded boats, the decision was made not to force the migrants to board state rescue vessels, to avoid endangering their lives in the event of a shipwreck," the prefecture added.
UK and French Cooperation
The Border Security Command ship BSC Contender was among those responding. A UK Government spokesperson said: "This morning, the Border Security Command was alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress in French waters. British vessels supported a French search and rescue operation. 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."
The spokesperson added: "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."
Pictures showed migrants disembarking from the Argonaute in Boulogne-sur-Mer, with some barefoot and wearing life jackets. The boat, which left Veules-les-Roses on Monday night, is one of the largest ever to attempt the crossing, following a record 165 migrants in a single vessel last month.
Ongoing Efforts to Prevent Crossings
A coastguard spokesperson said: "A vessel caught fire earlier this morning whilst in the French search and rescue region. UK vessels and a lifeboat are assisting." An RNLI spokesperson said Eastbourne's all-weather lifeboat launched at 6am on Tuesday.
The operation follows increased UK-France cooperation, with a £662million (€773m) deal aimed at preventing crossings. The three-year agreement includes plans to send riot-trained police to French beaches and deploy drones and helicopters. Around £100m of the funding is conditional on stopping enough journeys.
Home Office figures show crossings in 2026 are down around 43% compared to the same time in 2025. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said people "want to see this issue addressed", and stressed the importance of a "system that offers safe routes for people" to complement the crackdown.
