A teenager is among four people who died after a dinghy crossing the Channel sank, it has been revealed.

A major rescue operation is still ongoing in the sea off the Kent coast, with a further four people missing and feared dead.

Four bodies were recovered from the waters yesterday after the inflatable vessel was found in distress in the early hours of the morning.

A total of 43 people were recovered from the water including the dead, with four more people reported to be missing and feared dead.

Two of those 39 who were rescued alive were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, which remained open to the public throughout the day.

Leader of Kent County Council Roger Gough described the tragedy as "a sobering reminder of the human costs of what is an on-going crisis."

Speaking to the council today, Cllr Gough (Con) revealed that one of the victims had been a teenager, while 12 of those rescued were Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

He said that and placements had been set up for them, adding: "43 were recovered [from the water], of whom four have died – one of whom we believe was a minor, a teenager. There are a further four people missing.

"Our staff have been working with the NHS and with other partners to establish wrap-around care for those who have been brought from the water and so believe they have played an important and very positive role in our efforts to achieve recovery from this tragedy."

The people on board the boat included men, women and children from Senegal, Afghanistan, India and Iraq.

A phone call was made at 2.53am from one man whose family were in the water. Screams could be heard in the background.

“Please help me bro, please, please, please. We are in the water and we have a family,” he said.

The search and rescue operation was launched after authorities were first alerted to the incident at 3.05am.

The Maritime and Coastguard agency asked anyone sailing in the channel to watch "report any sightings" in the water to the coastguard.

A spokesperson added: "The search has continued overnight utilising a combination of aerial search assets and broadcast action requesting shipping in the area to post lookouts and report any sightings to Dover Coastguard."

Yesterday, the head of a fishing firm told reporters how the crew of one of his boats saved 31 people after coming across the boat in distress.

Ben Squire, who owns Plymouth-based Oceanic Drifter Fishing, told ITV: "The skipper called me to tell me he was involved in a serious incident.

“They were fishing mid-Channel, halfway between England and France, and a rigid inflatable boat with people on board, migrants, was crossing and was sinking very, very near to where he was fishing."

He added: “It looks to be that the bottom of the rigid inflatable boat with the migrants on had fallen away - so you had all these people in the water, in cold conditions, they were still holding onto the boat, obviously cold in the water."

Footage filmed from the boat showed some dressed only in t-shirts and thin life-jackets screaming for help, with fishing crew members pulling people out of the water with ropes.

Mr Squire, who was not on the boat for the rescue, said the skipper Ray Strachan told him they saved 31 people.

International rescue efforts carried on through the night, with as many as 14 boats, four helicopters and a fixed-wing plane. It is believed that a drone has been deployed to aid in the search today.

"Our thoughts are with those affected... and with the families of those who have lost their lives"

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The search and rescue of people from a small boat in the English Channel began at 02:16 yesterday (14 December), with initial assets sent by HM Coastguard. The first vessel on scene was a fishing vessel which arrived at 03:04. In the following hours, a total of 43 people have so far been recovered from the water – 39 people were rescued alive but four sadly died.

"Yesterday, the extensive search and rescue operation involved the HM Coastguard, Royal Navy, Border Force, RNLI lifeboats, French Navy and three fishing vessels, together with South East Coast Ambulance and Kent Police.

"Overnight and this morning the search continues with aerial assets to ensure that everyone is accounted for. HM Coastguard have been broadcasting to all shipping requesting that they post lookouts on board their vessels and report any sightings to Dover Coastguard.

"Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident and with the families of those who have lost their lives."

The Deal-based asylum seeker charity Seeking Sanctuary has since this tragedy repeated its call to provide a reception centre in Calais so people an make claims for asylum there.

It says the centre could have pre-bookable online appointments so people could wait in France and not have to make the dangerous Channel crossings. It also wants basic shelters for asylum seekers during cold weather.

Ben Bano, from Seeking Sanctuary, said: "Those fleeing war and persecution should be able access a fair hearing and live in safety and dignity while their claims are considered.We cannot solve this problem simply through yet again adding more security systems, more technology, more police and more patrol boats.

"Our proposals indicate practical ways to solve the immediate problems, which lead to the current misery and tragic loss of lives.

"They would also eliminate the need for the often complex and difficult maritime rescue operations currently being undertaken."

A vigil will be held for those who have died at an event in Walmer Green, Deal at 5.30pm this evening.