ISLAMABAD: At least 14 migrants killed after an inflatable boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Bodrum in Turkey’s Mugla province on Friday, Turkish authorities said. The vessel sank near Ortakent in the Aegean Sea after departing from the nearby Bitez area earlier in the day.
According to the Mugla Governor’s Office, the boat had 18 migrants on board, reportedly including Afghan nationals. About ten minutes after setting out, the vessel began taking on water and quickly sank.
One survivor swam for nearly six hours before reaching shore and alerting authorities, while another was rescued on Celebi Island, the coast guard confirmed.
“Additional Coast Guard boats and a helicopter were deployed to support the operations,” Turkish officials said. “The bodies of 14 migrants were recovered.
Search and rescue efforts for other missing migrants continue under the coordination of the Coast Guard, using four boats, a dive team, and a helicopter.”
The rescue mission involved four Turkish Coast Guard vessels, a diving team, and an aerial unit that responded after receiving a distress call from the 112 Emergency Call Center.
Two migrants were rescued, and operations are ongoing for two others still unaccounted for.
It is not clear whether the migrants were attempting to reach the nearby Greek island of Kos, a common destination for people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
The tragedy comes just days after Turkey launched a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking networks, detaining over 160 suspects accused of facilitating illegal migration.
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