Three people, including a child, have died and dozens of others were injured while attempting to cross the Channel on Monday, French authorities have confirmed. France's maritime police received a distress call in the early hours from an inflatable dinghy carrying 105 people that had encountered difficulties in calm seas.
The vessel reportedly overturned off the coast of Wissant, a village in northern France. A 10-year-old child and two women were among the fatalities. The three passengers received treatment on board but were later confirmed dead by an emergency medical team.
A spokesperson for the local prefecture confirmed a provisional total of three deaths and many more injured. Six rescue boats were still searching for people in the water at 9.30am UK time. A rescue boat later arrived at Calais port to disembark those rescued from the accident.
This incident follows the deaths of at least 17 people in the Channel this year while attempting to reach the UK. Last week, three bodies were found after similar "water taxi" departures from northern France.