A migrant boat capsized off Finike, Antalya, leading to 14 fatalities and 20 injuries. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with one suspect detained.
In the waters off the Finike district of Antalya, 14 people have reportedly died and 20 have been injured as a result of a boat carrying illegal migrants capsizing. Rescue operations in the area are ongoing.
The boat carrying illegal migrants capsized in the early hours of the morning for reasons yet to be determined.
Coast Guard Command teams have been dispatched to the area regarding the incident.
Initial reports indicate that 14 people have lost their lives, 20 have been injured, and search and rescue operations in the region are continuing.
It has been learned that one person has been detained in connection with the incident.
STATEMENT FROM THE COAST GUARD COMMAND
The Coast Guard Command reported that despite warnings being issued, the boat carrying a large number of illegal migrants did not stop and collided with a Coast Guard vessel. As a result of the collision, 14 irregular migrants lost their lives, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
In a statement regarding the matter, the Coast Guard Command said, 'On March 9 at 02:24, a high-speed fiber-hulled inflatable boat carrying a large number of irregular migrants was detected by the Coast Guard Unmanned Aerial Vehicle off the coast of Finike district in Antalya. Immediately, two Coast Guard Boats (TCSG-20, TCSG-9) were dispatched to the scene. Despite visual and audible warnings issued by the Coast Guard Boats assigned to intercept the mentioned fiber-hulled inflatable boat, the irregular migrant boat continued to flee at high speed and suddenly changed its course towards the Coast Guard Boat (TCSG-9) at 05:09, colliding with it. As a result of the collision, some of the irregular migrants on the high-speed fiber-hulled inflatable boat fell into the sea, prompting the immediate dispatch of one Coast Guard Helicopter (TCSG-510), one Coast Guard Ship (TCSG-104), and three more Coast Guard Boats (TCSG-914, KB-33, KB-34) to the scene. As a result of the search and rescue operations conducted in the area, six irregular migrants and one Turkish national suspected of human smuggling were rescued alive, while the lifeless bodies of 14 irregular migrants were recovered. Following the collision, 15 irregular migrants who fled the scene in the fiber-hulled inflatable boat were captured on the Beymelek beach of Demre district. Interviews with irregular migrants are ongoing to determine the status of the missing, and search and rescue operations continue. An investigation has been initiated by the Finike Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and six suspects related to the organizer have been detained.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
