More than 20 migrants have died after a boat sank off the coast of Calais on Wednesday, French police have told the AFP news agency.
Fishermen initially reported discovering 15 bodies floating in the water at around 14h CET.
A French navy vessel recovered five dead bodies and five other people unconscious.
The provisional death toll was later increased to "more than 20".
It comes as record numbers of migrants have attempted to cross from France to the United Kingdom this year.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Twitter that he was on his way to the scene.
"Strong emotion in front of the tragedy of the numerous deaths due to the capsizing of a boat of migrants in the English Channel," Darmanin wrote.
"The criminal nature of the smugglers who
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