17 Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Bodrum, Turkey

17 Dead as Migrant Boat Capsizes Near Bodrum, Turkey
…………

Seventeen people, including sixteen migrants and a suspected smuggler, died after a boat capsized near Bodrum in the Aegean Sea on Friday, Khaama Press reported. Authorities said the vessel overturned minutes after departure due to a technical malfunction. Two survivors were rescued, including an Afghan national who swam for six hours to reach the nearby island of Celebi.

The Turkish Coast Guard has deployed four vessels, a specialised diving team, and a helicopter to search for other passengers believed to be missing. Emergency responders noted that the operation faces challenging sea conditions. The incident underscores the dangers migrants face on irregular routes to Europe, often relying on overcrowded boats managed by smuggling networks.

According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1,400 people have died on Mediterranean and Aegean routes so far this year. Turkey, hosting over 2.5 million refugees, remains a key gateway, with officials continuing efforts to combat human smuggling amid ongoing economic and migration pressures.