Refugee boat sinking in Van: Bodies of 32 people recovered

Photo: AA

Click to read the article in Turkish (1) (2) / Kurdish

Rescue workers have recovered more bodies of refugees since yesterday (July 12) from Lake Van in eastern Turkey after a boat carrying as many as 70 people sank on June 28.

So far, a total of 32 bodies have been recovered from the lake.

Earlier this month, five suspects were remanded in custody over the sinking of a refugee boat in eastern Turkey.

Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of refugees arriving in Turkey has declined.

However, more than 21,000 refugees have reached Van province so far this year, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said earlier.

Of them, 16,000 were denied entry but 4,500 managed to enter the country, Soylu had added.

Turkey has been a key transit point for refugees aiming to cross to Europe.

What happened?

After setting off from Altınsaç Neighborhood in Gevaş district of Van on June 27, a boat with refugees on board reportedly got missing.

It was first alleged that the boat of Medeni Akbaş and Servet Akbaş, two fishers and also relatives who were allegedly carrying over 100 refugees, sank in Lake Van in eastern Turkey. As the fate and whereabouts of the two fishers were unknown, the head of Altınsaç Village as well as police and gendarmerie forces were informed about the incident.

Medeni Akbaş, who managed to get out of the capsized boat alive, reached Çitören Neighborhood in Tuşba and called his family. Upon the deposition of Akbaş, who was detained by the gendarmerie, a search and rescue operation started in the area where the boat sank.

In a statement released by the Van Governor's Office on July 8, it was indicated that the boat was located at a 106.5-meter depth off the shores of Çarpanak. While five people have been arrested in relation with this incident, 70-80 refugees are estimated to have been on board. (RT/VK)