Key facts
- French coastguards rescued 157 migrants from a burning boat in the English Channel.
- The boat's engine caught fire at sea, causing it to capsize.
- French, British Border Security Command, and RNLI vessels participated in the rescue.
- All 157 individuals are being transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
- No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
French coastguards rescued 157 people from a migrant boat that capsized and caught fire in the English Channel near Boulogne-sur-Mer. The vessel's engine ignited at sea, prompting a multi-national rescue effort involving French vessels, two British Border Security Command boats, and an RNLI lifeboat. All 157 individuals are being taken to port in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Five other people had been rescued from the same boat earlier. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers of migrant crossings in the busy and often hazardous English Channel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage commented on the incident, stating that the party's plan would save lives.