ISTANBUL: At least 21 migrants including five children have died after the boat they were in capsized near the Turkish coast, reported state media on Friday, citing statements from local authorities.
According to state media, the nationalities of the victims have not yet been determined. According to officials, two individuals were rescued by the Turkish coastguard, while another two managed to reach safety on their own.
The incident occurred near Gokceada or Imbros, Turkiye’s largest island situated in the Aegean Sea off the coast of the northwestern province of Canakkale.
“Security teams found the bodies of 21 people including five children,” the local governor’s office said in a statement.
The search and rescue operation was backed by one aero plane, two helicopters, one drone, 18 boats and 502 personnel, local governor Ilhami Aktas said. A search and rescue operation is currently underway.
Turkiye is home to nearly four million refugees, primarily Syrians.
Many migrants attempt to cross the dangerous waters from Turkey’s western shores to the Greek islands in order to go to the wealthy nations that make up the European Union. Many of them perish in the process.
