More than 100 migrants rescued trying to cross English Channel on Christmas, officials say

French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants trying to cross the English Channel from France to England on Wednesday.

Over the course of Christmas Day, 12 rescue operations were staged along the coast of northern France, including of a boat experiencing engine trouble, France's Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture said in a statement.

In the morning, 30 passengers were rescued from a boat near Dunkirk, while the others onboard wished to continue onwards and were taken into British custody once they reached British waters, the maritime authorities said.