Channel migrants hospitalised after boat capsize and major rescue near Boulogne

French authorities have rescued more than 70 migrants from the English Channel this afternoon after their boat capsized during a crossing.

A major air and sea rescue operation was launched shortly before 1pm, when authorities received reports of a migrant dinghy in difficulties near Boulogne.

Multiple rescue boats were launched to the scene near Hardelot beach, several miles south of the French port, where rescuers found around 70 migrants in the water.

It follows around 200 other migrants having made the crossing into UK waters on the second day of illegal small boat arrivals during the bank holiday heatwave.

Rescue services said five migrants were in immediate danger of drowning, and were plucked from the sea in a semi-conscious state.

Three of the victims, young Kurdish and Somali migrants, were rushed to hospital in Boulogne.

Almost 70 others were assessed, and some treated by medics on shore.

French officials said the migrant dinghy was a so called "taxi boat", which arrived off the beach around 12:30pm.

The boat got into difficulties and capsized under the huge volume of people trying to scramble aboard.

Just five hours after this dramatic rescue, GB News can confirm another migrant dinghy has launched from the very same stretch of beach.

The dinghy is now being escorted by the French patrol ship Minck, as it makes its way towards UK waters.

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GB News reported from the cliff tops in Dover today, as more than 200 other migrants arrived at Kent port.

Three dinghies successfully managed to make the illegal crossing, but at least three other migrant boats failed in their attempts.

Since Friday, more than 600 Channel migrants have crossed illegally to the UK.

Conditions tomorrow and on Monday are expected to remain favourable in the Channel, with more migrant boats expected to be launched by people smugglers.

At least two of the boats launched on Saturday came out of Belgium, part of a growing crisis for the Belgian authorities, as people smugglers attempt to circumvent enhanced police beach patrols around Dunkirk and Calais.