Migrant boat sinks off Turkey’s Aegean coast - media

At least four people died when a dinghy carrying irregular migrants sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast today, Turkish media reported with reference to security sources.

The boat carrying Iranian and Afghan-origin migrants - who were attempting to cross to Greece’s Lesbos island illegally - sank off the Ayvacik district of Canakkale province with the cause as yet unknown, Anadolu Agency reported.

The Turkish coast guard - backed by helicopters - recovered bodies of three women and one baby while rescuing 11 others, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The sources added that search and rescue efforts halted after rescued migrants said that totally 15 people were on the boat.