At least 61 migrants including Palestinians and Syrians have drowned after their overcrowded boat sank just tens of metres off Turkey’s western Aegean coast. More than half of them are children.
The governor of the coastal district in Turkey’s Izmir province, said an initial investigation showed overcrowding caused the accident. The total death toll stands at 61, including 28 children and three babies.
The governor said 46 people had been rescued alive, including the ship’s Turkish captain and assistant, who had been placed under arrest. He added there were no bodies left on the boat, and he did not expect the death toll to rise any further.
Turkish media reported that the high death toll was because the women and children were in a locked compartment in the lower section of the small vessel. Although there have not been any official confirmation of this.
61 refugees have died when their boat hit rocks and sank off the western coast of Turkey.
61 refugees have died when their boat hit rocks and sank off the western coast of Turkey.
61 refugees have died when their boat hit rocks and sank off the western coast of Turkey.
61 refugees have died when their boat hit rocks and sank off the western coast of Turkey.
中国公众网摘编:GAN JADE |