Five migrants die attempting to cross English Channel in boat
Around 70 people were trying to get into a small boat attempting to launch from a beach when it overturned in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Dozens were pulled from the water during overnight rescue efforts in Wimereux, to the south of Calais.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron told the BBC that the incident was "heartbreaking".
One person remains in a critical condition after being transferred to a hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, and one person suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Another 32 people were unharmed.
An investigation has been launched by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office into "aggravated manslaughter".
Jacques Billant, prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, told reporters criminal networks were endangering migrants.
"Going out to sea in 7C water means going to your death. With a lifespan limited to 10 minutes in the event of capsizing," he said.
"Unfortunately, that's what happened".
He added that post-mortem examinations would determine the cause of death which may be due to "drowning" or "thermal shock".
People got into trouble almost immediately after the boat departed the French coast for England at around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Sunday.
Dozens were trying to board the vessel as it left the beach and found themselves in difficulty at sea, the French maritime prefecture said.
A tugboat patrolling the coast attended the scene and found the bodies.
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