173 people rescued after engine fire on inflatable boat in the English Channel

Boulogne-sur-Mer - 04.08.2026: On Tuesday morning, 173 migrants in distress were rescued from an inflatable boat off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer. According to Franceinfo, the boat was severely overcrowded; its engine caught fire during the attempted crossing to the United Kingdom. Those rescued were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer. No information on injuries or fatalities was initially available.The incident occurred on one of Europe's busiest and most dangerous migration routes. From the northern French coast, people attempt to cross the English Channel in small inflatable boats. The boats, which are hardly suitable ...