Turkish coast guards rescue 29 asylum seekers

By Muhammet Yavas

CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) – Turkey on Thursday rescued 29 asylum seekers requesting help in the Aegean Sea, according to security sources.

The asylum seekers, who wanted to reach Europe by crossing the Aegean over Greece's Lesbos island, were rescued by Turkish coast guards in the western Canakkale province, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The naval force saved the foreign nationals and took them on board their boat.

The asylum seekers, including women and children, were then taken to the provincial immigration office for legal processes.

Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especially since Syria’s 2011 civil war.

It hosts nearly four million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.