More than 170 migrants have been rescued after the boat they were using to cross the Channel caught fire on Tuesday morning, as the UK government said “all will be returned” to France.
The boat was attempting to cross to the UK when its engine caught fire, according to the French maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea.
It had originally reported 157 migrants were rescued, but has since revised that figure up to 173. All have been taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer in France, with 11 people suffering from minor injuries.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation, and an Egyptian national has been taken into policy custody in connection with the incident.
Border Security Minister Anna Turley said the incident “shows the dangers of these illegal crossings and the ruthless gangs behind them”.
“That’s why we are bearing down on them,” she said.
French authorities said the boat left France on Monday night.
Overnight “five people on board the vessel required rescue… the remaining people on board refused the assistance offered by the French patrol boats”, the French maritime prefecture said.
“Determined to reach the United Kingdom, migrants crossing the Channel in small boats refused assistance offered by French emergency service, accepting it only in situations of extreme emergency,” it said in a statement.
Because of the “structural fragility” of boats used to cross the Channel, it said they decided not to intervene further at that stage.
But this morning the engine caught fire and the “vessel’s integrity deteriorated very rapidly”.
Rescue boats went to the scene from France and the UK, including the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat and the UK Border Force vessels BSC Contender and BSC Courageous.
The French maritime prefecture said the operation involved 40 firefighters, 13 police officers, seven interpreters, and a number of medical personnel.
It had previously reported that 157 migrants were rescued, but on Tuesday afternoon revised that figure up to 173.
On top of the initial five rescued, two French boats rescued 105 migrants and the British boats rescued 63. All of them were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer for treatment.
The total number on the boat broke the previous record of 165 people, who reached the UK late last month in a 42ft (13m) boat, making it the largest single vessel to attempt to cross the Channel carrying migrants.
