Largest migrant boat to cross Channel capsizes off French coast

A "mega dinghy" carrying 173 migrants capsized in the English Channel on Tuesday after its engine caught fire, marking the largest single small boat to attempt the crossing from France. All occupants were rescued with no fatalities reported. French authorities rescued the migrants with assistance from two British Border Security Command boats and an RNLI lifeboat, transporting them to Boulogne-sur-Mer. The vessel, which departed from Veules-les-Roses near Dieppe, broke the previous record of 165 people set late last month. The incident occurred amid political debate over Channel crossings, with Reform UK proposing Royal Navy returns to France. Overall 2026 arrivals stand at 14,561, down 43% from the same period last year.