The deaths of six folks after a migrant boat capsized within the English Channel has been described as an "appalling and preventable tragedy".

Campaigners are urging the federal government to create extra secure routes to the UK, with the Refugee Council warning "more people will die" except pressing motion is taken.

Meanwhile, MPs from throughout the political spectrum are calling for a clampdown on the legal gangs cashing in on these harmful journeys.

Shadow residence secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned motion to discourage folks smugglers is "desperately" obligatory - a sentiment echoed by Conservative backbencher Sir Jake Berry.

"We must put a stop to the vile people smugglers who trade in human misery and whose actions result in the loss of life," the previous social gathering chairman wrote within the Sunday Express.

Some 59 folks have been rescued by British and French coastguards on Saturday after an overloaded vessel acquired into issue close to Sangatte.

Five French ships, two British ships and a helicopter have been concerned within the huge operation, which had begun at about 4am UK time.

How the rescue unfolded

4.20am on Saturday 12 August: A service provider ship reported seeing a migrant boat in issue off the coast of Calais. Over the following forty minutes, 5 different industrial vessels confirmed this, and several other folks have been already overboard.

A 25-seater life raft was deployed, alongside RIB Hurricane. Dover’s coastguard was referred to as into help, alongside the RNLI.

5.50am: More British ships joined the rescue operation.

6am: 32 folks have been rescued – one was instantly evacuated by helicopter to hospital and later pronounced lifeless.

Two British ships rescued an extra 23 folks.

A helicopter picked up 5 unconscious folks, who have been later declared lifeless.

A member of the lifeboat crew informed Sky News: "When we arrived, we could only see large amounts of water.

"It was the helicopter that guided us to seek out the our bodies. And then we needed to recuperate the our bodies. One after one other."

Yesterday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman had described the incident as a "tragic loss of life" - and confirmed she had chaired a gathering with Border Force officers.

The variety of folks crossing the Channel in small boats has risen in current days.

On Thursday, 755 migrants made the perilous journey, the very best day by day quantity thus far this yr.

A complete of 100,000 crossings have been made since 2018 - 16,000 of these for the reason that begin of 2023.

After news of the fatalities emerged, a authorities spokesperson had mentioned: "This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is that we break the people smugglers' business model and stop the boats."

'Government has blood on its fingers'

A union boss warned the UK authorities has "blood on its hands" over the Channel tragedy and described its method as a "moral disgrace".

Head of bargaining on the Public and Commercial Services union, Paul O'Connor mentioned: "There is a readily available policy to prevent this tragic loss of life.

"Unfortunately, our calls on the federal government to undertake it have fallen on stony floor. It's clear they don't have any want to stop these harmful crossings.

"Instead, they're pouring taxpayers' money down the drain on policies which are unlawful, unworkable and doomed to failure."

Ministers "want to scapegoat refugees" in a bid to distract from "catastrophic failings" on folks's residing requirements," Mr O'Connor said.

"They do not care that folks die consequently. They have blood on their fingers."

Conservative MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, mentioned the tragedy underlines the necessity for joint patrols within the Channel.

"These overcrowded and unseaworthy deathtraps should obviously be stopped by the French authorities from leaving the French coast in the first place.

"The time has come for joint patrols on the French coast and a cross-Channel safety zone earlier than any extra lives are misplaced."