At least 20 people were killed off the coast of Turkey in a new tragedy at sea on Thursday night, when an inflatable boat loaded with irregular migrants sank in the waters off the Eceabat district of Çanakkale province, in the northwest Turkey. At least five children were among the dead, but the death toll could rise as the exact number of people on board the boat is still unknown.
The governor of Çanakkale province, Ilhami Aktaş, told the media that “according to the latest estimates there are 20 dead”, adding that “there is no reliable information on how many people were on the boat. We are working to find out.”
Aktaş highlighted the rapid mobilisation of coastguard teams and emergency services following the report of the sinking of the migrant-laden boat, which occurred some 13km off the Turkish coast, with a deployment that included 18 boats, a plane, two helicopters, a drone and 502 personnel. “As soon as we received the alert all teams were sent to the area,” the governor said. “The coastguard rescued four people alive, who have been sent to hospital,” he added.
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
