IZMIR
The Governorship of the western province of Izmir on Thursday said that 61 illegal migrants were killed while 46 others rescued after a boat carrying them sank in Aegean Sea off the coast of Menderes town of Izmir province.
In a statement released Thursday, the Governorship of Izmir said that those 61 people killed included 12 men, 18 women, 28 children and 3 babies.
"Rescued Palestinian and Syrian illegal migrants were brought to the Ahmetbeyli Gendarmery Station and went through a health check-up. Two of those rescued were taken to a local hospital. The Prosecutor's Office in Menderes began an investigation on the boat," the statement underlined.
Rescue operations in the region will continue for three days.
Turkey saddened by death of 61 illegal immigrants
Turkey was deeply saddened by death of 61 illegal immigrants after their boat sank off the western province of Izmir.A statement by the Foreign Ministry said that Turkey has taken every sort of measure in combating human trafficking.
Even an attempt to human trafficking was a heavy crime in the Turkish Penal Code, it said, recalling that Turkey was a party to international agreements in combating human trafficking.
The statement added that the international community should effectively fulfill its responsibilities on the issue.
