A major rescue operation was launched in the English Channel after a large inflatable boat carrying around 150 migrants reportedly caught fire. The incident involved the vessel's engine and prompted an urgent response at sea.

The Eastbourne lifeboat was sent out at about 6am, joining British and French coastguard assets. According to the available details, the fire happened in French waters, leading to a cross-Channel emergency effort involving both countries.

The case highlights the continuing risks linked to migrant crossings in small boats, especially when overcrowding and mechanical problems are involved. An engine fire on a heavily loaded dinghy can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation, making rapid intervention critical.

Officials were responding to the emergency as reports emerged, but no further confirmed details were immediately available in the trimmed account. What is clear is that the Channel migrant dinghy fire triggered a significant UK-France rescue operation early in the day.