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'Migrant boat' off Dungeness sparks Channel rescue bid | 'Migrant boat' off Dungeness sparks Channel rescue bid |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nine people have been rescued from an inflatable boat that ran into trouble in the English Channel. | |
Coastguards and the RNLI went to help the vessel - an RIB or rigid inflatable boat - which was about 20 miles south of Dungeness in Kent. | |
The rescued people have been taken on board a lifeboat and are being looked after, and the vessel is being towed back to shore, the RNLI said. | |
The BBC has had unconfirmed reports the boat was carrying migrants. | |
The Home Office has not yet commented. | |
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a search and rescue operation took place following an alert received just before 05:00 GMT. | |
She said: "A vessel has been found and nine people rescued and taken on board the Dungeness all-weather lifeboat where they are currently being looked after by the crew." |