Turkish Coast Guard rescues 30 migrants in Aegean Sea

MUĞLA - Anadolu Agency

At least 17 irregular migrants have been rescued in the Aegean Sea off Turkey's southwestern coast, said security sources on Oct .27.

The migrants requested help from the Turkish Coast Guard when their rubber boat started taking in water off the Emecik district in the Muğla province, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

Separately, in Bodrum district, 13 irregular migrants were also rescued after their fiber boat sank off Turgutreis Cape.

Among the migrants, Mouch Navw, a 31-year-old Iraqi mother of two and pregnant, died in a district hospital.

All of the migrants, most of whom are Palestinian and Iraqi nationals, were referred to provincial migration office.

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