French and British rescue vessels retrieved 157 people from a migrant boat that caught fire while attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday morning, with no reported casualties.

More than 150 migrants were rescued in the English Channel on Tuesday after the vessel they were traveling in experienced an engine fire during an attempted crossing to the UK, according to French maritime authorities. The boat had departed from France on Monday evening when the incident occurred early the following morning.

French rescue services initially responded during the overnight hours when five people aboard required immediate assistance. However, the remaining passengers declined help at that time, expressing determination to reach the United Kingdom despite the risks. French authorities cited the structural weakness of such vessels as a reason for exercising caution during initial rescue efforts.

When the engine ignited and the boat's structural integrity deteriorated rapidly, rescue operations intensified with vessels from both France and the UK responding to the emergency. Two French boats rescued 103 people while British Border Force vessels and the RNLI Eastbourne lifeboat retrieved 54 individuals. All 157 rescued migrants were transported to Boulogne-sur-Mer for treatment. There were no reported injuries or fatalities from the incident.

The rescue operation occurred one day after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated his government would pursue aggressive measures to reduce small boat arrivals in British waters, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding migration across the Channel.