More than 150 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in Channel, French authorities say

The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to the French maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea.

French authorities said it is one of the largest such rescue operations reported since records began in 2018.

Scores rescued after fire on boat in English Channel  CNN

Search teams were deployed at about 6am on Tuesday after the boat’s engine burst into flames off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer

Services including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and British and French coastguards are responding to a fire on board a migrant boat in the English Channel

At least 157 people have been rescued after migrants had attempted to cross the English Channel

Britain and France signed a new three-year deal in April to stop irregular migrants making the risky Channel journeys, with London paying Paris up to €766 million in return for boosted law enforcement of the issue.

The party says it would send the Royal Navy into the Channel to intercept all migrant boats and return them to France or Belgium under a plan called 'Operation Fortress'

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government will be "relentless" in tackling small boat crossings the Channel.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to be "relentless" in tackling small boat crossings during a visit to Dover

The new Prime Minister visited Dover, Kent, on Sunday, August 2

Andy Burnham’s first fortnight as PM plagued by 2,000 Channel migrant crossings despite crackdown  GB News