At least 18 die after migrant boat sinks off Turkey’s Aegean coast
The vessel later began taking on water amid rough weather and sea conditions in the area before sinking, the statement said.
Wednesday April 1, 2026
A migrant boat capsized off Turkey’s western Mugla province on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people as coastguard teams raced to find survivors, authorities said.
- Advertisement -
According to a coastguard statement, the inflatable vessel, fitted with an outboard motor, was spotted at 0300 GMT near Mugla’s Bodrum district. The boat attempted to run despite repeated orders to halt, the coastguard said.
The vessel later began taking on water amid rough weather and sea conditions in the area before sinking, the statement said.
A coastguard helicopter and three boats were sent to the scene for search and rescue operations, with 21 people rescued so far, the coastguard added.
The statement did not specify where the boat had set out from or its intended destination.
The Aegean Sea remains a major crossing point for thousands of migrants seeking to travel from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe, especially via Turkey, which hosts millions of refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Alison Williams