Four die as migrant boat sinks off Turkey's Aegean coast

ÇANAKKALE – Anadolu Agency

At least four people, including a baby, died when a dinghy carrying irregular migrants sank off Turkey's Aegean coast, security sources said on March 26.

The boat carrying Iranian and Afghan-origin migrants - who were attempting to cross to Greece's Lesbos Island illegally - sank off the Ayvacık district of northwestern Çanakkale province with the cause as yet unknown.

The Turkish coast guard - backed by helicopters - recovered bodies of three women and one baby while rescuing 11 others, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Search and rescue efforts halted after rescued migrants said that totally 15 people were on the boat, the sources added.

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

Meanwhile, Turkish officials on March 25 detained at least 655 irregular migrants in nationwide operations.

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

Over 265,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.