Turkey rescues 44 irregular migrants stranded in island

Members of Turkish Coast Guard Command launch rescue operation for irregular migrants stranded on Yumurta Island in Aegean town of Ayvalik district of the western Balikesir province, on 19 November, 2018 in Balikesir, Turkey [Evren Atalay/Anadolu Agency]

A rescue operation for migrants stranded in Balikesir, Turkey on 19 November 2018 [Evren Atalay/Anadolu Agency]

An aerial view of Yumurta Island in Aegean town of Ayvalik district as Turkish Coast Guard Command conduct rescue operation for irregular migrants stranded on the island in Turkey’s western Balikesir province on November 19, 2018. Turkish Coast Guard on Monday rescued all 44 irregular migrants, including women and children, stranded in Yumurta island in Aegean sea, sources said. ( Evren Atalay – Anadolu Agency )

An aerial view of Yumurta Island in Aegean town of Ayvalik district as Turkish Coast Guard Command conduct rescue operation for irregular migrants stranded on the island in Turkey’s western Balikesir province on November 19, 2018. Turkish Coast Guard on Monday rescued all 44 irregular migrants, including women and children, stranded in Yumurta island in Aegean sea, sources said. ( Evren Atalay – Anadolu Agency )

A view of Yumurta Island in Aegean town on 19 November 2018. Turkish Coast Guard on Monday rescued all 44 irregular migrants, including women and children, stranded in Yumurta island in Aegean sea, sources said. ( Evren Atalay – Anadolu Agency )

Irregular migrants are brought to Ayvalik Coast Guard Command in Balikesir’s Cunda island after rescued by members of Turkish Coast Guard Command on 19 November, 2018 in Balikesir, Turkey [Hakan Firik/Anadolu Agency]

Irregular migrants are brought to Ayvalik Coast Guard Command in Balikesir’s Cunda island after rescued by members of Turkish Coast Guard Command on 19 November, 2018 in Balikesir, Turkey [Hakan Firik/Anadolu Agency]

Turkish Coast Guard on Monday rescued all 44 irregular migrants, including women and children, stranded in Yumurta island in Aegean sea, sources said.

The migrants were rescued during the operation in northern Aegean, off the coast of Turkey’s Balikesir, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The operation was launched after one of the migrants called the emergency service, they added.

Turkey has been the main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.

Some 205,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018 as of Oct. 15, according to the Interior Ministry.

The irregular migrants were mostly Afghan, Pakistani, Syrian and Iraqi nationals.

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