ANKARA, April 1 (Reuters) - At least 18 people were killed when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western province of Mugla on Wednesday, the coastguard said in a statement,
At Least 18 Dead in Migrant Boat Sinking off Turkey’s Aegean Coast
Details of the Tragic Incident
Initial Discovery and Coastguard Response
ANKARA, April 1 (Reuters) - At least 18 people were killed when an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western province of Mugla on Wednesday, the coastguard said in a statement, adding that search and rescue efforts continued in the area.
The coastguard said the boat, with an outboard motor, was detected at 0300 GMT off the coast of Mugla's Bodrum district, and that it tried to flee despite repeated warnings to stop.
Adverse Conditions and Sinking
The boat later took in water due to adverse weather and sea conditions in the area and sank, it added.
Search and Rescue Operations
A coastguard helicopter and three boats were dispatched to the area for search and rescue operations, the coastguard said, adding that they had rescued 21 people so far.
Unanswered Questions
The statement did not say where the boat had departed from or where it was heading.
Background: Migrant Routes in the Aegean
The Aegean Sea as a Migration Pathway
The Aegean Sea is a frequent transit route for thousands of migrants attempting to cross from North Africa and the Middle East into Europe, particularly from Turkey, which hosts millions of refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Alison Williams)
