KABUL: (Middle East Press) At least fourteen people including seven children, have lost their lost after their small boat sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast on its way to the Greek island of Lesbos.
As many as 40 people were on board the overladen vessel while some 27 were rescued by Turkish authorities.
“Around 40 to 50 migrants were brought to the port in a truck and they boarded the boat. I think the captain, a Syrian man, was inexperienced. The boat hit the rocks as they set sail and it sank shortly after.” An eyewitness said.
Tens of thousands of migrants have made the perilous journey from Turkey to Europe in recent months, many of them fleeing conflicts in the Middle East while others came from Africa. The onset of winter has so far done little to stem the flow.
Authorities say after the boat hit the rocks they continued on until they took in so much water they had to turn back, but sank before reaching shore.
