Dinghy carrying 157 migrants capsizes in Channel after catching fire

By George Lithgow, PA Political and Home Affairs CorrespondentAugust 04, 2026 at 11:04am BSTA dinghy carrying 157 migrants has capsized in the English Channel after its engine caught fire at sea.They were rescued from the water by French vessels aided by two British Border Security Command boats and a RLNI lifeboat, and are being taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, French authorities said.Some 54 of the migrants were taken to France on the British vessels.It comes a day after Reform UK proposed using the Royal Navy to return migrants to France or Belgium under a plan called “operation fortress”.Responding to the incident, party leader Nigel Farage said: “We must put a stop to this. Our plan will saves lives.”