UPDATE - Bodies of 6 irregular migrants retrieved in Turkey

UPDATES WITH FURTHER REMARKS BY INTERIOR MINISTER SULEYMAN SOYLU, ADDS BACKGROUND ON MIGRATION

By Mesut Varol, Ozkan Bilgin and Necat Hazar

VAN, Turkey (AA) – Rescue workers have so far recovered bodies of six migrants from a lake in Turkey's eastern Van province after a boat carrying them sank, the interior minister said on Wednesday.

Suleyman Soylu said a local headman informed security forces on the incident on June 28 and a search and rescue operation was launched straight away.

The boat is believed to have been carrying up to 60 people when it sank deep into Lake Van.

Soylu said provincial gendarmerie and security forces, and specially trained diver units were dispatched to the lake.

He went on to say 11 suspects were arrested for their role in human smuggling.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of irregular migrants arriving in Turkey has declined.

However, more than 21,000 migrants approached Van so far this year, Soylu said.

Of them, 16,000 were denied entry, however, 4,500 managed to enter the Turkish territory through illegal means.

Commenting on the reasons of the migration influx, the minister said external support to proxy wars, income inequality, poverty and conflicts played a major role.

He said unlike other countries, Turkey sought to help ease problems of migrants and people living in conflict-prone territories.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas