157 migrants rescued after boat catches fire in English Channel

French and British rescue vessels pulled around 157 migrants from the water on Tuesday after their boat caught fire during an attempted crossing of the English Channel, French maritime authorities said. All those aboard were recovered and taken ashore for medical checks.

Officials described the operation as one of the largest Channel rescue efforts since 2018, when authorities began systematically tracking small-boat crossings. Overcrowded and poorly maintained vessels have repeatedly caught fire or capsized in the busy shipping lane in recent years, prompting repeated warnings from coastguards on both sides of the water.

The incident renews pressure on London and Paris to agree on tougher measures against smuggling networks that organize the crossings. Both governments have pledged closer coordination on patrols, though migrant crossings have continued at a steady pace through the summer.