Europe

17 refugees die after boat sinks off the coast of Turkey

The boat had 37 Syrians on board and was on its way to the Greek island of Leros

A group of refugees and migrants arrive to the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on Sunday.Photograph: Aris Messinisaris/AFP/Getty
A group of refugees and migrants arrive to the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on Sunday.Photograph: Aris Messinisaris/AFP/Getty
Sun Sept 27 2015 - 13:14

Seventeen Syrian refugees have drowned after their boat sank off the Turkish coast on its way to the Greek island of Leros.

Governor Amir Cicek of Mugla province told the state-run Anadolu Agency that the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 20 other Syrian refugees early on Sunday. No one was missing or unaccounted for.

Mr Cicek said the 37 Syrians had boarded the boat at the holiday resort of Gumusluk on the Bodrum peninsula.

It sank soon after leaving the coast.

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The governor said an investigation had been launched into the incident.

PA