More than 500 people who were likely trying to cross the English Channel from Calais are feared to be in danger.

French-based organisation Utopia56 has claimed that at least 10 overloaded boats have been in the Channel for hours.

The Calais team, the organisation said in a message on X, received 10 distress calls at sea in the early hours of October 24.

The message read: “At least ten overloaded boats are currently in danger in the English Channel. Since 2am, the Calais team has received ten distress calls at sea, involving over 500 people.

“Our thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services on site, who are doing their utmost.”

Utopia 56 also shared screenshots of messages appearing to show the locations of some of the distress calls.

Aboard one of the boats reportedly in danger in the Channel are 75 people, the message suggests, including seven children.

The apparent distress call also included speculation on the issue reported by the dinghy, stating there may be a “problem with the engine”.

Utopia 56, an organisation mobilising people to help those in vulnerable situations, including the homeless, didn’t mention whether the people on the boats were migrants trying to reach the UK illegally.

Government data shows that hundreds of people have successfully reached Britain over the past week after undertaking the life-threatening journey across the Channel aboard small boats.

On October 18 alone, 647 migrants reached the British shores. The day before, 48 people arrived, while no migrant arrival was recorded between October 19 and 21.

On October 22, three boats carrying 149 people reached Britain, while 292 migrants arrived in the UK the day after.