Boat Sinks in Aegean Sea, 6 People Lose Their Lives

* Photograph: Ferdi Uzun / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

An inflatable boat, which had 16 people on board including women and children, capsized off the coast of Çıplak Island in the district of Ayvalık in Balıkesir on July 29. The boat set off from Ayvalık late at night to reach the Lesbos Island in Greece.

The coast guard took action

After the boat was identified by thermal cameras during the patrol hours of the Ayvalık Coast Guard Command, nine people were rescued by the coast guard teams. Search and rescue operations were launched after those who were rescued stated that there were 16 people on board.

Three babies have lost their lives

After the search and rescue operations, the bodies of six casualties, three of whom were babies, were taken out of the water. The operations to find one person who has gone missing have been continuing.

"2 of the 16 people might be organizers"

The District Governor of Ayvalık, Gökhan Görgülüarslan made a statement about the incident and shared information regarding the continuing search and rescue operations. He also stated that two of the 16 people who were on board might be the organizers. (HA/SD)