Associated Press journalists on a beach in Wimereux, on the northern French coastline and close to the site of Tuesday's deadly sinking, are broadcasting live video of an inflatable boat crowded with people, seemingly migrants, out to sea.
The boat is so laden that some of those aboard, crammed side-by-side on the inflatable tubes, have their legs over the sides.
Many are wearing orange life preservers. A small gray patrol boat flying a French flag approached the inflatable at one point and a crew person aboard then tossed more orange life vests — about half a dozen of them — to people aboard the vessel, who caught them.
Another larger patrol vessel is shadowing the inflatable from a larger distance away.