UPDATE 2 - 19 dead as refugee boat capsizes in Black Sea

UPDATES WITH FRESH DEATH TOLL

By Sahin Oktay, Tahir Turan Eroglu, Ibrahim Aktas

KOCAELI, Turkey (AA) - At least 19 people died after a fishing vessel carrying illegal migrants sank in the Black Sea off Turkey’s northwestern province of Kocaeli early on Friday, Turkish Coast Guard said.

Search teams have managed to rescue 40 migrants after the boat sank at 5.03 a.m. local time (0203GMT) around 64 nautical miles north of the village of Kefken, according to a statement.

A coast guard boat carrying rescued migrants, arrived at Kefken port in Kandira district of the province.

They are being treated in a mobile hospital at the port. Two of them, who are in serious condition, were taken to the Kocaeli State Hospital, the statement added.

Supported by a number of coast guard and naval aircraft along with five merchant ships, search efforts are underway to find around 10 other missing migrants.