Dozens escape drowning after refugee boats capsize in Aegean Sea

AYDIN / MUĞLA – Doğan News Agency

AA Photo

Some 44 refugees narrowly avoided drowning after their boat sank in the Aegean Sea off Aydın’s Kuşadası district en route to Greece’s Samos Island, 26 kilometers away.

The boat, which was carrying Palestinian, Afghan and Eritrean nationals, reportedly sank due to its weight. Patrol boats from the Turkish Coast Guard rescued the refugees.

There were five women and six children among the rescued refugees, who will be delivered to the police to be deported pending health checks. In a separate event, 13 illegal Syrian refugees were saved by the Turkish military after their boat crashed into rocks on the shore of Muğla’s Fethiye district as the vessel was trying to reach Rhodes in Greece.

Three children and three women were among the refugees who were delivered to the police preparatory to deportation, Anatolia news agency reported.