Turkish coast guard rescues 72 asylum seekers

İZMİR-Anadolu Agency

Turkish Coast Guard teams rescued at least 72 asylum seekers on May 25 from four boats in the Aegean Sea. 

Acting on a tip-off, the rescue team reached out to the asylum seekers, who were on board inflatable boats that were forced into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard.

The asylum seekers – including Afghans, Congolese, Guineans, and Pakistanis – were rescued off the coast of Foça in İzmir province. They were taken to the provincial migration office.

Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especially since Syria’s civil war started in 2011.

Turkey hosts nearly four million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.