50 migrants die on way to Europe through Turkey in 2019

İZMİR

At least 50 irregular migrants lost their lives on their way to Europe through Turkey in 2019, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Most of the deaths took place in the Turkish-Iranian border, where 32 migrants froze to death while trying to cross to Van province in eastern Turkey from Iran.

Another two migrants froze to death in the western Edirne province.

In four separate incidents at the Aegean Sea, a total of 16 irregular migrants drowned while trying to cross to Greek islands.

636 migrants detained

Meanwhile, a total of 636 irregular migrants were detained across Turkey on May 15, Anadolu Agency said.

Out of total, 565 migrants were detained in Edirne by security forces near the Turkish- Greek border, said the agency.

The migrants were from Palestine, Morocco, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.

Also, a minibus carrying 16 irregular migrants from Morocco and Algeria crashed in Edirne, injuring 11 of them, including the driver.

The injured were taken to a hospital.

Meanwhile, operations in the western Tekirdağ and the southern Hatay provinces saw the detention of 55 irregular migrants.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

Some 268,000 irregular migrants were detained in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry.

The migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.