UPDATE 3 - 21 dead as refugee boat capsizes in Black Sea

UPDATES DEATH TOLL TO 21

By Sahin Oktay, Tahir Turan Eroglu, Ibrahim Aktas, Sengul Oymak

KOCAELI, Turkey (AA) - At least 21 people were killed when a fishing vessel carrying migrants sank in the Black Sea off northwestern Kocaeli province early 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 Kefken village, according to a statement.

A coast guard boat carrying the rescued migrants took them to Kefken port in Kandira district of the province.

They were 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.

A number of coast guard and naval aircraft along with five merchant ships were engaged to search for survivors.