A life raft carrying migrants met a tragic end on Tuesday after crashing into rocks near Cesme, a coastal town on Turkey’s Aegean coast.
The Turkish Coast Guard reported seven fatalities and confirmed the rescue of nineteen others, including children. Search efforts continue for one missing person.
Survivors allege they were placed on the raft by Greek authorities and left adrift in Turkish waters. The raft subsequently struck rocks and sank.
This incident adds fuel to the ongoing dispute between Turkey and Greece, with Turkey accusing Greece of “pushbacks” – the illegal deportation of migrants without proper asylum procedures. Greece maintains it does not return migrants to Turkey.
Greece is a popular entry point for migrants seeking a better life in the European Union. Many travel on unsafe vessels provided by smugglers, making these journeys incredibly perilous.
Footage shared by the Turkish Interior Minister showed a Coast Guard boat rescuing migrants, including children, from a nearby island. The rescued individuals were reported to be in good health.
