Over 150 Migrants Rescued After Boat Fire During UK Crossing

Igwe Grace Chiamaka

More than 150 migrants were rescued on Tuesday after a boat travelling from France to the United Kingdom crossing the English Channel caught fire. French authorities said all 157 people on board were safely rescued,with no reports of injuries or deaths.

According to the French maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea, the boat left France on Monday night. Although five people were rescued overnight, the remaining passengers refused assistance and continued their journey toward the UK. However, the boat later developed engine problems, caught fire and quickly became unsafe.

Rescue teams from both France and the United Kingdom responded to the emergency. French rescue boats saved 103 migrants, while UK Border Force vessels and the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat rescued the remaining 54. All those rescued were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer for medical checks and further assistance.

Meanwhile, the incident came a day after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged that his government would remain "relentless" in tackling illegal Channel crossings. He said the number of officers targeting people-smuggling gangs had been increased and stressed the need to create safer legal routes for migrants.

The latest rescue has once again drawn attention to the dangers of crossing the English Channel in overcrowded and fragile boats, as political debate over migration and border security continues in the UK.

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