By Durmus Genc
MUGLA, Turkey (AA) – At least 17 irregular migrants have been rescued in the Aegean Sea off Turkey's southwestern coast, said security sources on Saturday.
The migrants requested help from the Turkish Coast Guard when their rubber boat started taking in water off the Emecik district in the Mugla province, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.
Among the migrants were Palestinian and Iraqi nationals.
All of the migrants were referred to provincial migration office.
Turkey has been a main route for irregular migrants trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.
