British and French vessels rescued 157 migrants on Tuesday after a small boat caught fire during an attempt to cross the Channel, according to the Pas-de-Calais prefecture.
The prefecture said the boat caught fire at the boundary between British and French waters.
Those on board then jumped into the water, prompting the rescue operation. No casualties have been reported so far.
It is one of the largest rescue efforts in the North Sea since migrants began crossing the Channel in 2018.
Migrants often make the journey in flimsy boats, and accidents occur regularly.
