43 undocumented migrants held in western Turkey

By Durmus Genc

MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - A total of 43 undocumented migrants are being held in Turkey’s Mugla province, the Turkish Coast Guard said late Monday.

Teams from the coast guard noticed a group of people in a rubber boat offshore of Mugla’s Akyarlar neighborhood.

A Yemeni national and 42 Syrians were held in the boat, according to the coast guard.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

Among the migrants held in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan -- around 15,000 -- followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.