Two men died and two women were seriously injured in a fire aboard an overcrowded dinghy attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain on Saturday. The vessel, carrying around 80 migrants including men, women, and children, caught fire approximately one mile off the coast near Berck, in northern France.

French rescue teams were on scene but faced challenges in responding to the emergency due to the chaotic situation onboard the so-called mega-dinghy. The fire reportedly started after a fuel leak ignited near the boat’s motor, creating a strong smell of petrol that was noticed by rescue personnel before the outbreak of flames.

Jean-Marc Lamblin, skipper of Berck’s lifeboat, recounted that the initial atmosphere seemed controlled, but concern grew as migrants moved children towards the edges of the boat. Distress escalated into shouting and panic as the fire spread. Rescue teams tried to assist but the scale of the incident and overcrowding complicated efforts.

Two women, both Somali nationals aged 20 and 26, were severely burned in the incident. They were pulled from the water by rescuers, with at least one suffering serious burns to the lower body caused by contact with both seawater and petrol. The two men who died were 35 and 45 years old, though their identities and nationalities have not been disclosed.

Authorities continue investigations into the precise circumstances of the fire, while emergency services provided treatment to those injured. The tragedy highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants using unsafe vessels in attempts to reach the UK via the Channel crossing.