Bodrum, Turkey. 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. Search and rescue efforts continued in the area.
Boat detected off Bodrum
The coastguard said the inflatable boat, equipped with an outboard motor, was detected at 0300 GMT off the coast of Mugla’s Bodrum district. It said the vessel tried to flee despite repeated warnings to stop.
Sinking and rescue efforts
The coastguard said the boat later took in water due to adverse weather and sea conditions and sank. A coastguard helicopter and three boats were dispatched for search and rescue operations, and 21 people had been rescued so far, it added.
Unclear route and broader context
The coastguard statement did not say where the boat had departed from or where it was heading. The Aegean Sea is a frequent transit route for 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.
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