A dinghy used by migrants lies on the shore on the island of Lesbos, early on June 18, 2015. Some 48,000 migrants and refugees have landed on Greek shores so far this year. (Agence France-Presse)
Ankara:
Six Syrian migrants were killed and dozens more rescued today when their overloaded boat capsized off Turkey's Aegean coast while on its way to Greece, the Dogan news agency reported.
The migrants were seeking to reach the Greek island of Kos and enter the European Union when their boat hit trouble in stormy weather before dawn today after leaving the Turkish resort of Bodrum.
The corpses of six migrants were found and the other passengers on the boat, which was carrying 62 people, were rescued by the Turkish coast guard, Dogan said.
"It was windy. Suddenly our boat capsized. We found ourselves in the sea. The coast guard saved us as we were clinging to the hull.
We are in shock, our relatives have been killed," Syrian migrant Ahmet Sohta, 30, who survived the accident, told Dogan.
Turkey is hosting some 1.8 million refugees from the conflict in Syria, many of whom dream of a better life in the European Union.
The Turkish authorities have over the last weeks halted hundreds of migrants seeking to make the perilous open boat journey to Greece and other EU states.
The migrants were seeking to reach the Greek island of Kos and enter the European Union when their boat hit trouble in stormy weather before dawn today after leaving the Turkish resort of Bodrum.
The corpses of six migrants were found and the other passengers on the boat, which was carrying 62 people, were rescued by the Turkish coast guard, Dogan said.
"It was windy. Suddenly our boat capsized. We found ourselves in the sea. The coast guard saved us as we were clinging to the hull.
We are in shock, our relatives have been killed," Syrian migrant Ahmet Sohta, 30, who survived the accident, told Dogan.
Turkey is hosting some 1.8 million refugees from the conflict in Syria, many of whom dream of a better life in the European Union.
The Turkish authorities have over the last weeks halted hundreds of migrants seeking to make the perilous open boat journey to Greece and other EU states.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
