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Aegean Sinking Off Bodrum Leaves 17 Dead, Two Rescued

Authorities now attribute the deaths to a rapid flooding of the dinghy soon after leaving Bodrum.

Overview

  • The Turkish coast guard reports recovering the bodies of 16 migrants and one suspected smuggler, with two migrants rescued alive.
  • A survivor of Afghan nationality says 18 people had boarded and that he swam for about six hours to reach shore.
  • According to survivor accounts, the inflatable boat took on water and went down within minutes of departure.
  • Rescue operations deployed four coast guard vessels, a team of divers, and a helicopter that remained active in the area.
  • The crossing was reportedly bound for the nearby Greek island of Kos, as the incident adds to nearly 1,400 Mediterranean deaths tracked by the IOM this year.