Fears 10 individuals useless after dinghy with 100 migrants sinks in Channel

A major rescue operation is underway in the English Channel after a boat carrying around 50 migrants sank.

There are fears at least 10 people have died after the inflatable vessel got into difficulty off the coast of France. 

A French coast guard spokesperson confirmed 10 people were in critical condition following the boat sinking. 

Rescue workers were deployed close to Le Portel, a town of around 9,000, shortly after 11.30am.

Several teams are still at sea, helping to locate those from the sinking vessels. No details have been released about how many people have been recovered from the water. 

A large rescue operation is underway in Boulogne-sur-Mer after a boat carrying several migrants sank (file photo)

TV channel France 3 claimed the mayor of Le Portel, Olivier Barbarin, said ‘around 10 people in cardio-respiratory arrest’.

Some of those rescued were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer while others were lifted by helicopter to Le Portel.

Emergency services have rushed to the scene to respond to the incident. 

The mayor of Le Portel has closed the beach in order to allow helicopters to land. 

France’s outgoing interior minister Gérald Darmanin is expected to arrive at the scene later today. 

The tragic incident comes after French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work closer together to dismantle migrant smuggling routes last week. 

The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, making the crossing on small boats dangerous.

In August, two people were found dead after a boat carrying migrants trying to cross the Channel ran into difficulties.