By Cem San, Mirac Kaya, and Gizem Nisa Demir
BALIKESIR, Türkiye / ISTANBUL (AA) - Five people were killed and one seriously injured on Sunday when a migrant boat collided with a Turkish Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Ayvalik in northwestern Türkiye.
The incident took place during an anti-smuggling operation carried out by the North Aegean Coast Guard Command, said a statement from the Balikesir Governor’s Office.
During the operation, a high-speed fiberglass boat carrying 34 irregular migrants and one suspected smuggler struck a coast guard vessel near Badavut in the city of Ayvalik.
Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of five migrants who drowned after falling into the water. One survivor was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to locate one migrant who is believed to be missing.
Prosecutors in Ayvalik have launched an investigation into the incident.