Turkey rescues 30 asylum seekers in Aegean Sea

The Turkish Coast Guard rescued a total of 30 asylum seekers who were pushed back by Greek coastal authorities into Turkish territorial waters off the Aegean coast, a security source said on Tuesday.

A coast guard team was dispatched off the coast of Kusadasi in Aydin province on a tip-off that 26 asylum seekers were stranded on a lifeboat, the source said, adding that the asylum seekers, all foreign nationals, were taken to the shore.

Separately, another coast guard team was dispatched to Bozburun in the Mugla province after getting information about four asylum seekers stranded on a lifeboat. They were also pushed back by the Greek Coast Guard into Turkish territorial waters in the Aegean.

After routine checks, the asylum seekers were sent to the provincial migration authority, Anadolu agency reported.