19 dead as refugee boat capsizes in Black Sea

A Turkish coast guard boat arrives to shore after rescuing migrants after a fishing vessel carrying them sank in the Black Sea on 22 September 2017 [Tahir Turan Eroğlu/Anadolu Agency]

At least 19 people died after a fishing vessel carrying refugees and migrants sank in the Black Sea off Turkey’s northwestern province of Kocaeli early this morning, Turkish Coast Guard said.

Search teams have managed to rescue 40 refugees and migrants after the boat sank at 5:03am local time (02:03GMT) around 64 nautical miles north of the village of Kefken, according to a statement.

A coast guard boat carrying rescued refugees and migrants arrived at Kefken port in Kandira district of the province.

They are being treated in a mobile hospital at the port. Two of them, who are in serious condition, were taken to the Kocaeli State Hospital, the statement added.

Supported by a number of coast guards and naval aircrafts along with five merchant ships, search efforts are underway to find around 10 other missing refugees and migrants.

Read: Up to 77% of migrants face abuse, exploitation and trafficking

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