Migrant crisis: ‘Dozens dead’ off Turkey as two boats sink

Two boats on their way to Greece have capsized near Turkey, killing at least 33 migrants, Turkish media say.
Both the Anadolu and Dogan agencies reported that 22 people died close to the Greek island of Lesbos.

Dogan said another 11 people died in a separate incident further south, near Dikili in Turkey’s Izmir province.

 

Up to 5 February, at least 374 people had died crossing into Europe this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says.

The sea route from Turkey to Greece was the most popular way for migrants to try and enter Europe in 2015.

Dogan reported that a number of children were on board the boat carrying 22 people. At least four people were rescued, Hurriyet newspaper said.

News of the deaths comes as Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in Turkey to discuss ways of reducing the number of migrants arriving into Europe.

The IOM says close to 69,000 people have already arrived on Greek shores so far this year, despite often stormy conditions, compared to almost 854,000 in the whole of last year.

Source: BBC