1,451 refugees captured in three days on Aegean

İZMİR – Doğan News Agency

REUTERS photo

Some 1,451 migrants have been captured in three days as part of security operations seeking to stop groups from attempting to cross to Greece over the Aegean.

According to the Coast Guard Command, between Oct. 2 and 5, 1,451 migrants were captured in the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale, the Dikili, Çeşme and Seferihisar districts of İzmir, and the Bodrum, Fethiye and Marmaris districts of Muğla.

As part of around 45 rescue operations in three days, four migrants’ lifeless bodies were pulled from the Aegean Sea. Authorities also reported that many of the migrants were bringing toddlers with them, despite repeated boat tragedies in the region that claimed numerous lives over the summer.

Around 56,697 migrants have been captured at sea since Jan. 1, the Coast Guard Command said.