4 die as migrant boat sinks off Turkey’s Aegean coast

By Hanife Erdinc</p> <p>CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) – At least four people, including a baby, died when a dinghy carrying irregular migrants sank off Turkey’s Aegean coast, security sources said on Tuesday.</p> <p>The boat carrying Iranian and Afghan-origin migrants — who were attempting to cross to Greece’s Lesbos island illegally — sank off the Ayvacik district of northwestern Canakkale province with the cause as yet unknown. </p> <p>The Turkish coast guard — backed by helicopters — recovered bodies of three women and one baby while rescuing 11 others, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.</p> <p>Search and rescue efforts halted after rescued migrants said that totally 15 people were on the boat, the sources added. </p> <p>Turkey has been the main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.</p> <p> </p> <p>*Writing by Nilay Kar Onum