More than 150 migrants rescued after dinghy capsizes in English Channel

French and UK rescue teams carried out a major cross-Channel operation after a migrant dinghy caught fire and began breaking apart off the French coast, with all 157 people on board brought to safety. ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports

A dinghy carrying 157 migrants has capsized in the English Channel after its engine caught fire at sea.

They were rescued from the water by French vessels aided by two British Border Security Command boats and a RLNI lifeboat, and are being taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer, French authorities said.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency told ITV News: “A vessel caught fire earlier this morning whilst in the French search and rescue region. UK vessels and a lifeboat are assisting.”

A total of 54 migrants were taken to France on the British vessels.

In relation to the incident, a UK Government spokesperson said: “This morning, the Border Security Command was alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress in French waters.

“British vessels supported a French search and rescue operation. This is a live rescue operation but at this stage there have been no fatalities reported. Those on board will be safely returned to France.

“This incident underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings. We continue to work relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.”

In a translated statement, French authorities said the decision was initially made not to force the migrants to board rescue vessels to “avoid endangering their lives”.

The number of people on the boat, which left the beach at Veules-les-Roses, near Dieppe, on Monday night, makes it one of the biggest ever to attempt to cross the Channel.

An RNLI spokesperson said Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat launched at 6am on Tuesday.

More than 2,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.

The latest figures show 326 migrants arrived on Saturday in four boats, bringing the number up to 2,057 since Burnham took over from Sir Keir Starmer on July 20.

There were 1,962 crossings in the same period last year, with the total for the year so far having dropped significantly compared with this time in 2025.

Burnham has said the government’s plan to curb Channel crossings is working as numbers are down year-on-year, adding that the number of crossings is down 50% this year compared with the same period in 2025.

The PM added that July crossings were at their lowest in six years, but admitted there is more to do.

During a visit on Dover to tout a boost to the number of officers deployed to tackle smuggling gangs, Burnham said he wanted to “grip” the issue of small boat arrivals rather then “play politics” with it.

“The public don’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled,” he said.

Adding: “We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.

“Slowly but surely we are putting in place those building blocks of a very different approach to this issue. It’s working, but there’s more to be done.”

In relation to Tuesday’s incident, charity Care4Calais said: “Our thoughts are with everyone caught up in this terrifying incident, and we’re relieved that those rescued appear to be safe.

“This wasn’t an unavoidable tragedy. It was the inevitable consequence of forcing people with no safe way to claim asylum into ever more dangerous journeys.”

Every time politicians choose hostile policies over safe routes, they leave refugees with an impossible choice: stay and face war, torture or persecution, or risk their lives at sea”, adding that the fire was “a devastating reminder of where that choice leads.”