On Tuesday morning, a boat carrying more than 150 migrants caught fire in the English Channel, French authorities have confirmed. The vessel was attempting to reach the UK when it ignited.
The French maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea said the boat had left France the previous night. Initially, five people on board required assistance, but the rest opted to ignore the help offered by French patrol boats.
French authorities noted that migrants often reject assistance unless it becomes a dire emergency. The boats used to cross the Channel are known for their structural fragility, which led to the decision to refrain from intervening further initially.
When the fire broke out, rescue boats were dispatched from both France and the UK. The RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat, along with the UK Border Force vessels BSC Contender and BSC Courageous, responded to the emergency. French teams rescued 103 people, while the remaining 54 were rescued by British crews.
All rescued individuals are being transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer for treatment and are expected to arrive at 12:30 local time on Tuesday. Despite the fire causing the vessel to deteriorate quickly, none of the migrants were injured or killed. French authorities said 173 people were eventually rescued, and eleven migrants sustained minor injuries.
This incident occurs just one day after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared his government would be “relentless” in reducing the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats. The UK government is showing “unwavering determination” to tackle the issue, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said. “Progress is being made, but we are not letting our guard down,” he added.
French officials have stressed the challenges of managing these crossings. The refusal of many migrants to accept assistance unless in extreme danger complicates rescue operations and increases the risks involved. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident. An Egyptian national has been taken into police custody in connection with the case, although authorities have not disclosed the specific allegations. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said an estimated 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel from France to Britain since the beginning of the year, compared with 24,000 in the same period last year. The number of successful crossing attempts is 160 this year, down from 413, he said.