Türkiye recovers 2 bodies of irregular migrants

IZMIR, Türkiye

The Turkish coast guard recovered two bodies of migrants and rescued 46 others off the Aegean coast of Türkiye, according to authorities on Friday.

A rubber boat carrying a group of migrants drifted off the coast of Karaburun district in Izmir province due to engine failure, the Turkish Coast Guard Command said in a statement.

The coast guard sent a boat to the spot and found the lifeless body of a migrant.

After a helicopter-assisted search and rescue operation, coast guard teams found the lifeless body of another migrant.

Those who were rescued were taken for health checks and then to the provincial migration authority.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for migrants wanting to cross to Europe to start new lives.

Türkiye, which already hosts 4 million refugees – more than any country in the world – is taking new security measures both within and on borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar