Refugee boat sinks near İzmir, 61 dead

İZMİR

AA Photo

Sixty one people died when a refugee boat carrying over 100 refugees sank off the coast of İzmir today, Doğan news agency reported.
 
Some of the refugees swam to safety onshore. The rescued refugees are reportedly from Iraq and Syria and are of Kurdish origin.

The boat's passengers, who were allegedly trying to enter European countries illegally, were mostly women and children.
 
Initial questioning revealed the refugees to be on their way to Britain. The fishing boat they were in struck some rocks and began taking on water, sinking soon afterward, the report said.
 
Gendarmarie forces have detained two Turkish suspects in connection with the incident amid a continuing investigation.