London: Almost 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, French media reports said.
Dozens were pulled from the water during overnight rescue efforts in Wimereux, to the south of Calais.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said it was “heartbreaking”.
Local authorities say the four dead were from Iraq and Syria.
One other person is in critical condition and has been transferred to a hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, a spokesperson from the French maritime prefecture told the BBC.
People got into trouble almost immediately after the boat departed the French coast for England at around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT). News Source by BBC.
