Seven Illegal Migrants Drowned in Aegean Sea Off Turkish Coast

Kusadasi: Seven migrants drowned in the Aegean Sea off the western coast of Turkiye after falling overboard when the authorities tried to intercept their boat, the Turkish coastguard said. According to Emirates News Agency, the migrants were part of a group of around 40 people who set sail on an inflatable boat from near the Turkish seaside resort of Kusadasi, approximately 100 kilometers south of Izmir. Kusadasi is located opposite the Greek island of Samos, about 15 kilometers across the water. The tragedy occurred when the Turkish coastguard attempted to intercept the boat, causing seven passengers to fall into the water. Three bodies were recovered shortly after the incident, and four more were found the following day. Fortunately, another 18 adults and 13 minors were rescued unharmed. Shipwrecks are frequent on the short but hazardous route between the Turkish coast and the nearby Greek islands of Samos, Rhodes, and Lesbos, which serve as entry points to the European Union. The International Organis ation for Migration (IOM) reported that 2,333 migrants disappeared or died in the Mediterranean last year.