Paris, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
French and British rescue teams on Tuesday rescued 173 migrants after a boat attempting to cross the English Channel caught fire near the maritime boundary between French and British waters, according to French authorities.
The French Maritime Prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea said the vessel had departed from the French coast on Monday night in an attempt to reach the United Kingdom.
During an initial surveillance operation, French rescue teams identified five people on board who required immediate assistance. Those five migrants were rescued by French coastguards, while the remaining passengers declined the assistance initially offered by French authorities.
The situation escalated on Tuesday morning when the boat caught fire near the boundary separating French and British waters, triggering a joint rescue operation involving both French and British maritime services.
The maritime prefecture initially reported that 157 people had been rescued but later revised the total to 173.
“So far, we have not recorded any serious injuries,” Thierry Darras, Deputy Director of the Pas-de-Calais Departmental Fire and Rescue Service, said during a media briefing.
According to French broadcaster France Info, citing the maritime prefecture, boats used by migrant smuggling networks have grown significantly larger in recent years. The average capacity of such vessels has increased from around 26 passengers in 2021 to approximately 65 since the beginning of 2026.
The latest rescue comes just months after another fatal Channel crossing attempt in May, when two women died after an overcrowded makeshift boat carrying around 82 migrants encountered difficulties after departing from Neuchatel-Hardelot in northern France.
The vessel reportedly suffered a suspected engine failure before running aground on a nearby beach. Seventeen people who fell into the water were rescued by maritime gendarmerie units, while 65 others remained aboard. Several migrants required hospital treatment, including three who were reported to be in critical condition.
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