Mega-dinghy carrying dozens of illegal migrants catches fire while crossing Channel

A mega-dinghy carrying dozens of illegal migrants has caught fire while making the illegal journey across the Channel.

A major air and sea rescue took place in the English Channel this morning after the dinghy sank, tipping almost 160 illegal immigrants into the sea.

Multiple British and French rescue vessels were called to the scene around 8am after the engine on the giant dinghy is reported to have caught fire.

A total of 157 migrants ended up in the water and were pulled to safety by the arriving rescue ships.

Medics from Boulogne-Su-Mer were helicoptered aboard rescue boats to treat the injured as they were landed aboard.

Multiple migrants have suffered the effects of hypothermia, but at this stage there are no reports of any serious injuries.

One maritime security source told GB News it was "miraculous" that no one had died.

"This was a massive rescue effort by both the British and French, working together at speed.

"Multiple Border Security Command vessels, alongside the RNLI and their French counterparts were able to pull these people to safety in a relatively short period of time.

"Quite frankly, it's miraculous that no one has died, although searches in the area have been continuing."

Those rescued are being taken to the port of Boulogne, where French authorities will triage the injured and take care of the other migrants.

People smuggling gangs are increasingly turning to these supersized dinghies in an effort to crowd more people on fewer boats.

This is believed to be the second largest number of migrants ever carried on a mega dinghy.

Last month, a mega dinghy made it to UK waters with 165 people on board.

The vessel at the centre of today's major rescue operation had left the shore near the port of Dieppe yesterday morning and had been in the water for more than 18 hours before its engine gave in and caught fire.

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