Rescue launched after migrant boat carrying 160 people catches fire in Channel
A rescue operation is currently under way in the Channel after a dinghy believed to be carrying approximately 160 migrants burst into flames. Emergency services were scrambled at around 6am on Tuesday after the so-called "mega-dinghy" caught fire in French waters.
British and French coastguards, together with the RNLI Eastbourne, were deployed to recover those on board and bring them to safety in France. Some 11 vessels are reported to be involved in the response, with 157 people rescued and transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
A coastguard spokesperson said: "A vessel caught fire earlier this morning whilst in the French search and rescue region. UK vessels and a lifeboat are assisting."
French officials added: "A small boat caught fire at the border between French and British waters, leading its occupants to jump into the water."
According to the Express, it remains unclear whether any fatalities have occurred, though French media reports suggest a number of individuals are suffering from hypothermia.
One maritime security expert told GB News it is a "miracle" that no deaths have been reported. They said: "This was a massive rescue effort by both the British and French, working together at speed.
"Multiple Border Security Command vessels, alongside the RNLI and their French counterparts, were able to pull these people to safety in a relatively short period of time.
"Quite frankly, it’s miraculous that no one has died, although searches in the area have been continuing."
The Express reports that a single vessel carrying 160 people is believed to be the second-largest recorded in the Channel. The deployment of "mega dinghies" is said to have been rising in recent months.
Just last month, 165 migrants are reported to have arrived in the UK aboard a single boat. Border Security Command was spotted towing the dinghy into Dover on 24 July.
Speaking to LBC, a Home Office spokesman said the crossing offered a "stark reminder" to "criminal gangs" that have "no regard for the safety of those they claim to help".
They added: "The reality is clear and lives are being lost in the Channel."
Politics Editor
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