French and British rescue teams respond as vessel carrying migrants to UK suffers engine fire
More than 150 migrants have been rescued after the small boat they were using to cross the English Channel caught fire, French authorities said.
Boat catches fire
The vessel left France on Monday night and was attempting to reach the UK when its engine caught fire on Tuesday morning.
The French maritime prefecture said 157 people were rescued and taken towards Boulogne-sur-Mer. No deaths or injuries were reported.
French and UK teams respond
Two French rescue boats recovered 103 people, while British vessels rescued another 54.
The rescue operation involved the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat and UK Border Force vessels BSC Contender and BSC Courageous.
The migrants were being taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were expected to arrive around midday local time.
Vessel deteriorated rapidly
French authorities said five people initially accepted assistance overnight, while others refused help because they were determined to continue towards the UK.
Officials said the boats used for Channel crossings can be structurally fragile, making intervention difficult.
However, when the engine caught fire, the condition of the vessel deteriorated rapidly, prompting rescue teams to act.
UK warns of dangers
A UK government spokesperson said the Border Security Command had been alerted to a migrant boat in distress in French waters.
The government said British vessels assisted with the rescue and warned that the incident highlighted the dangers of attempting to cross the Channel in small boats.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to work with France and other partners to tackle people-smuggling networks and reduce dangerous crossings.
Crossings remain political issue
The rescue comes amid renewed political debate over migration in the UK.
More than 2,000 migrants have arrived in Britain by small boats since Burnham became prime minister two weeks ago, while 752 people crossed the Channel last Wednesday, making it the busiest day for crossings so far this year.
However, Home Office figures show crossings are around 43% lower than at the same point last year.
UK and France strengthen cooperation
In April, Britain and France agreed to a £662 million deal aimed at reducing Channel crossings.
The three-year agreement includes increased policing on French beaches and the use of drones and helicopters to target people-smuggling operations.
UK ministers have also said funding could be reduced if the measures fail to significantly curb crossings.
