Tragic Sinking: Migrants Drown off Turkish Coast

At least 14 migrants tragically drowned when their rubber boat sank off Turkey's western coast in Mugla province, officials announced on Friday. A rescue operation is ongoing as authorities hope to find any remaining survivors.

The Mugla Governor's Office reported that an Afghan survivor, who swam back to shore, alerted the authorities to the disaster early in the morning. He informed the emergency services that the boat carried 18 people but soon capsized after taking on water. Rescue teams have located another survivor and recovered 14 bodies from the sea.

The search for missing migrants continues with the deployment of four coast guard boats, a special diving team, and a helicopter. The Aegean Sea is a popular, though dangerous, path for migrants attempting the journey from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe. Turkey has seen high numbers of irregular migrant crossings, with over 122,000 apprehended this year alone.