The Turkish Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of five migrants whose boat was wrecked on Saturday morning in the province of Aydin, off the coast of Turkey. Eleven other migrants have been rescued alive, but Greek authorities say there were 31 people on the boat.
An inflatable dinghy was drifting and at risk of sinking when a coastguard vessel approached the scene. Two other vessels were subsequently dispatched to the area, the Turkish Coast Guard reports in a statement.
Among those rescued were ten adults and one minor who were treated by medical personnel at the port of Didim. The five bodies were also brought ashore.
The operation is still ongoing to try to locate other migrants who are missing, although a possible number has not been released.
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 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.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
