At least 24 illegal migrants drown in Aegean Sea

ÇANAKKALE

At least 24 illegal migrants have been found dead in the international waters of the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey after a speed boat carrying them capsized, Doğan News Agency reported today.

The boat capsized around 10 miles from the Tavaklı neighborhood of Çanakkale province. Initial reports said the Coast Guard teams had found 18 bodies in the sea.

Twelve illegal migrants have also been rescued alive, the Çanakkale Governorate has said.

The boat’s captain called the Coast Guard at around 2:00 a.m. today and said there were 30 people on the boat. Four boats, one helicopter and a coast guard plane are continuing to search for more people in the sea.

Coast guard rescues 42 illegal migrants in Muğla
 
Meanwhile, another boat carrying 42 illegal migrants and two alleged human traffickers that had broken down off the coast of Greece’s Rhodes was rescued by Turkish coast guards off the Aegean province of Muğla.
 
The coast guards found the sailboat adrift at sea during a routine patrol in the Aegean Sea with migrants from Afghanistan, Myanmar and Syria on it, including many children and women.
 
The suspected human traffickers were detained and taken to Muğla’s Marmaris district along with the illegal migrants. They will be sent to court after testifying at the Muğla Police Department.
 
After a medical check, the migrants were sent to Muğla Police Department’s Foreigners’ Office, which will apply deportation procedures.