Eighteen people have been taken to hospital following the incident in the Channel close to Dunkirk on the French coast. Military and civilian boats have been involved in the operation

Search operations are ongoing after a migrant boat sank off the coast of France on Tuesday.

Eighteen people have been taken to hospital, according to French authorities.

A young child is among the reported dead, according to French media outlet La Voix Du Nord.

French authorities have so far declined to comment on the reports that migrants have lost their lives and said an update will be issued later.