Migrant boat sinks off western Turkey

At least eight people were killed today after a dinghy carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western coast.

Search and rescue operations were launched by the coast guard to reach the passengers of the boat, which sunk off the coast of the Bodrum district in the Muğla province, Anadolu Agency reported, adding that 31 people had been rescued.

The operations, carried out with two boats, a diving team and a helicopter from the coast guard, had found the bodies of eight people from the boat, which was carrying 40 migrants in total.

In an earlier statement, the coast guard had said efforts were underway to reach nine missing migrants from the dinghy.