Bodies of At Least 34 Refugees Wash Ashore in Turkey After Boats Capsize
Two refugee boats attempting to navigate the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece capsized early Tuesday morning, killing at least 34 men, women and children, whose bodies washed onto beaches in the coastal towns of Ayvalık and Dikili, a local news agency there reported.
Per Doğan News Agency, the Turkish coast guard said it was able to rescue six refugees from the water after the boats encountered stormy weather. The bodies of those who died fleeing to Greece were found later in the morning. According to the state run news agency Anadolu, 24 of the victims were found on the shores of Ayvalık, where they are believed to have traveled from Iraq, Algeria and Syria.
The death toll is expected to rise. In 2015, it’s believed that close to 4,000 people died crossing Mediterranean waters in search of safety.
[via Buzzfeed / photo of a woman walking past life vests used by immigrants who made it ashore to Greece via AP]
