Turkey: Migrant boat sinks off Aegean coast, 1 killed

By Suleyman Elcin

MUGLA, Turkey (AA) - At least one irregular migrant died and another 10 were rescued after a boat sank off the coast of Bodrum in Turkey's Aegean province of Mugla, coast guard sources said.

Coast guards started a search and rescue operation off the shore of Bodrum after a Panama-flagged merchant ship reported the incident, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

At the scene, the teams found a smashed fiber boat and irregular migrants on the surface of the water.

Among the rescued irregular migrants were four Syrians, four Palestinians and two Egyptians.

Two of the rescued migrants were transferred to the hospital as they were in critical condition.

Turkey’s Aegean provinces - Canakkale, Balikesir, Izmir, Mugla and Aydin - are prime spots for refugees leaving for the EU, with many Greek islands lying within sight of the Turkish coast.