Channel fire rescue saves 173 migrants near France
BOULOGNE MER: Migrants wrapped in red blankets stepped off a rescue ship in France on Tuesday, after French and British authorities saved 173 people whose boat caught fire as they tried to cross the Channel. It was one of the largest rescue
French and British rescue crews saved 173 migrants after a small boat caught fire in the English Channel, according to authorities in France. The incident, reported on Tuesday, unfolded as the vessel was crossing from the French coast toward the United Kingdom.
The rescue operation was one of the largest reported since records began in 2018 for these dangerous sea crossings, based on the details released by French maritime authorities. Officials later revised the number of people rescued to 173 from an earlier figure of 157.
According to the prefecture in France's Pas-de-Calais region, the boat caught fire on the boundary between French and British waters, forcing those on board to jump into the sea. Rescue services official Thierry Darras said some of the people brought to safety suffered burns, grazes or bruises, but no serious injuries were reported.
French maritime authorities said the migrants had left the coastal village of Veules-les-Roses in Normandy on Monday. A spokesman for the British coastguard said UK vessels and a lifeboat were assisting after a vessel caught fire in French waters. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution said it launched a boat at 6am to help with the response.
Images from the aftermath showed migrants wrapped in red blankets as they stepped off a rescue ship in France. The scene highlighted the risks faced by people attempting the Channel crossing, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.
France has long been a departure point for migrants without visas who hope to reach Britain. Many pay smugglers large sums to board overcrowded rubber dinghies for the journey, which can turn deadly in rough or busy waters.
French maritime authorities also said the number of people packed onto these boats has risen in recent years. They said the average load has increased from 26 in 2021 to 65 since the start of this year.
The rescue in the Channel adds to growing concern over the scale and danger of these crossings. As Dawn World reported, the operation involved both French and British teams working together to bring the migrants to safety.
FAQ
What happened in the English Channel?
A small boat carrying migrants caught fire during a crossing, prompting a joint rescue operation by French and British authorities.
How many people were rescued?
French maritime authorities said 173 people were rescued.
Were there serious injuries?
Officials said some people had burns, grazes or bruises, but no serious injuries were reported.
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