March 11 () –
The Turkish Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of five migrants whose boat capsized this Saturday morning in the province of Aydin, on the Turkish coast. Another eleven migrants have been rescued alive, but the Greek authorities point out that there were 31 people on the boat.
An inflatable boat was adrift and at risk of sinking when a coast guard vessel approached the scene. Two other vessels were later sent to the area, the Turkish Coast Guard reports in a statement.
Among those rescued are ten adults and one minor who were treated by health personnel in the port of Didim. The five corpses were likewise moved ashore.
The operation is still open to try to locate other migrants who are missing, although a possible number has not been disclosed.
The Greek Coast Guard has also launched a search operation in the vicinity of the island of Farmakonisi with the participation of a Navy ship and a helicopter despite the bad weather conditions.
Another 21 migrants were rescued on Friday near Izmir by the Turkish Coast Guard, which claims that their boat was towed into Turkish waters by the Turkish Coast Guard.
