A migrant dinghy carrying about 160 people catches fire in the English Channel off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, prompting a major search and rescue response involving British and French authorities. Multiple outlets report that the incident occurs in French waters and that the boat’s engine is involved, with flames breaking out around 6am on Tuesday. British assets, including the Eastbourne lifeboat, are deployed alongside French and UK coastguard vessels and other search teams. Authorities launch the rescue after concerns over safety and the risk of another tragedy. One report states that 157 people are rescued and taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, while other accounts focus on the scale of the response and the fact that people are being recovered in the aftermath of the fire. The exact number of people aboard and the circumstances leading to the engine fire are described differently across outlets, but all agree on the timing, location near Boulogne-sur-Mer, and the joint rescue operation by sea and search teams.
Dinghy carrying around 160 migrants catches fire in Channel; major British and French rescue launched
A migrant dinghy carrying about 160 people catches fire in the English Channel off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer, prompting a major search and rescue response involving British and French authorities....
- A dinghy carrying about 150–160 migrants catches fire in the English Channel near Boulogne-sur-Mer.
- The incident happens around 6am Tuesday in French waters, with reports pointing to an engine-related fire.
- British and French coastguard vessels and lifeboats deploy to carry out a major rescue operation.
- Search teams are deployed after flames break out off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
- One outlet reports 157 people are rescued and taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
A major rescue operation is underway.
1 hour agoA dinghy rescue operation was launched at around 6am on Tuesday after the so-called "mega-dinghy" carrying around 160 migrants went up in flames in French waters in the English Channel
2 hours agoSearch teams were deployed at about 6am on Tuesday after the boat’s engine burst into flames off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer
2 hours agoA search and rescue operation was launched at around 6am on Tuesday after a so-called "mega dinghy" carrying around 160 migrants went up in flames in French waters, with 157 people rescued and taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer
2 hours agoThe Eastbourne lifeboat was launched at 6am today alongside French and British coastguard vessels after the boat's engine caught fire in French waters. File photo.
2 hours agoThe Eastbourne lifeboat was launched at 6am today alongside French and British coastguard vessels after the boat's engine caught fire in French waters. File photo.
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