8 die after migrant boat sinks off Turkey’s Aegean coast

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

Eight people have died and one rescued as a boat carrying irregular migrants sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast of İzmir province, security sources said on Oct. 10.

The boat carrying the migrants, who were attempting to cross into Greece via an illegal route, capsized off İzmir’s Karaburun district, said the sources.

The sources later said the death toll increased to eight from four, as it was stated earlier by the same sources, as search and rescue for the remaining 26 migrants continue.

In accordance with the information provided by a migrant woman who was rescued, search and rescue efforts began in the area to find possible missing migrants.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said an Iraqi woman with a rescue jacket and wet clothes came to local gendarmerie command seeking help on Oct. 10 at 11:54 p.m. local time.

The initial testimony by the woman claimed they sailed off at 8 p.m. local time on Oct. 8 and that there were 35 people on the boat.

Upon her testimony, one coast guard corvette, two coast guard boats, one coast guard aircraft and one coast guard helicopter along with gendarmerie and security units were dispatched, the ministry said.

“Search and rescue activities are ongoing in efforts to find nearly 30 irregular migrants who are considered missing,” the statement added.

Turkey has been a main route for migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.