Over 250 undocumented migrants held across Turkey

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin and Safak Yel

EDIRNE/IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - A total of 272 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey on Tuesday, according to security sources.

In the northwestern province of Edirne, 144 migrants were rounded up in the Bosnakoy, Ipsala, Meric and Uzunkopru districts said coast guard sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants were from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine and Algeria.

Separately, coast guards rounded up 46 foreigners, who were traveling in a boat off the western Izmir province's Dikili district, the sources said.

In Izmir's Urla district, another 44 undocumented migrants were held.

In the northwestern port city of Canakkale, 38 in a sinking rubber boat were rescued by coast guards.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

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. There has been a 60 percent increase in migrant flow since 2016. The number was 31,000 in 2016.