Migrant boat fire in English Channel live: 157 rescued to France after engine blaze

Migrants involved in the small boat fire in the English Channel this morning have now been pictured disembarking the French rescue ship Argonaute in France.

The ship transported 30 of the 157 people who were rescued to Port de Commerce in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France.

[Migrants disembark from the French rescue ship Argonaute following their rescue at sea]

Migrants disembark from the French rescue ship Argonaute following their rescue at sea(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Below is a breakdown of all the recources deployed to the English Channel this morning to rescue nearly 160 people following a small boat fire.

The list, provided by the French Maritime Prefect is as follows:

• the state-chartered rescue ship Minck and its semi-rigid intervention boat (SRI);
• the chartered support and assistance vessel Argonaute
• the Dauphin helicopter of the detachment of flotilla 35F based in Le Touquet;
• the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) vessel RNLI 14 02 - Eastbourne;
• British Border Force ships: BSC Contender and BSC Courageous;
• a team of two nurses from SAMU 62 in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The vessel from the Calais maritime and port security platoon was also deployed to ensure the safety of shipwrecked people and crews in the area.

The French Maritime Prefect added that, after five of the people on board were rescued, the boat continued its crossing attempt over the Channel.

This morning, however, while still in the French safety reference area but close to the British one, the boat's engine caught fire and "the vessel's integrity deteriorated very rapidly".

A Mayday Relay message was sent out by the Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre "immediately" and available resources were sent "to rescue the shipwrecked migrants", the prefect said.

A statement from the French Maritime Prefect stated that the people on the boat were "determined to reach the United Kingdom".

The authority said the migrant boat departed yesterday from the Veules-les-Roses area in Normandy, with the French Sea Rescue Society deployed from Dieppe.

The Argonaute and the Minck ships were also sent to monitor the boat's crossing during the day and night yesterday and today.

Five people needed to be rescued on board the vessel overnight, the prefect stated, and were brought back to the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The prefect statement reads: "The remaining people on board refused the assistance offered by French resources.

"Determined to reach the United Kingdom, the migrants making the crossing in precarious boats refused assistance offered by French resources and only accepted it in situations of extreme urgency.

"Given the structural fragility of the systematically overcrowded boats, the decision was made not to force the migrants to board state rescue vessels, to avoid endangering their lives in the event of a shipwreck."

The UK Government has also confirmed no fatalities have been recorded at this stage.

A 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."

Border Security Command Maritime and the RNLI supported the French Coastguard to conduct this morning's search and rescue operation.

[Nearly 160 people were rescued (file photo)]

Nearly 160 people were rescued (file photo)(Image: PA)

The people present on the small boat were forced to jump into the water when the vessel caught fire, French authorities have confirmed.

A spokesperson told the Mirror: "This morning, a small boat caught fire on the boundary between French and British waters, forcing its occupants to jump into the water.

"French and British rescue services responded quickly. A total of 157 people were rescued and are currently being brought ashore at Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they will be attended to by the fire and rescue service (SDIS) and state-commissioned organisations.

"At this stage, there are no reported casualties. The operation is still ongoing."

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: "A vessel caught fire earlier this morning whilst in the French search and rescue region. UK vessels and a lifeboat are assisting."

A spokesperson for RNLI said: "Eastbournes all-weather lifeboat launched at 6am today to an incident."

A total of 157 migrants have reportedly been rescued this morning as their boat caught fire while trying to cross the English Channel.

French authorities told AFP: "A small boat caught fire at the border of French and British waters, leading its occupants to jump into the water."

The statement added that no casualties have been reported "at this stage".