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| Dozens of migrants drown as boat hits rocks, sinks off Turkey coast | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| ANKARA, Turkey — A boat carrying Syrians attempting the short sea journey from Turkey to Greece struck rocks and capsized at dawn Saturday, killing at least 37 people, among them several babies and young children. | ANKARA, Turkey — A boat carrying Syrians attempting the short sea journey from Turkey to Greece struck rocks and capsized at dawn Saturday, killing at least 37 people, among them several babies and young children. |
| Images of dead children on a beach Saturday recalled the photo of a 3-year-old lying face down on a Turkish beach last year that triggered an outpouring of support for the migrants’ plight, but also resulted in the debate and protests over their swelling numbers pushing into Europe. | Images of dead children on a beach Saturday recalled the photo of a 3-year-old lying face down on a Turkish beach last year that triggered an outpouring of support for the migrants’ plight, but also resulted in the debate and protests over their swelling numbers pushing into Europe. |
| Saturday’s tragedy occurred when the boat capsized as dozens of people attempted the deceptively short crossing from the Turkish coast to the Greek island of Lesbos, barely 5 miles away. More than 250 migrants have drowned this month trying to reach the Greek islands, an entry point to Europe and its uncertain promise of refuge from war and poverty. | Saturday’s tragedy occurred when the boat capsized as dozens of people attempted the deceptively short crossing from the Turkish coast to the Greek island of Lesbos, barely 5 miles away. More than 250 migrants have drowned this month trying to reach the Greek islands, an entry point to Europe and its uncertain promise of refuge from war and poverty. |
| [Special report: The Waypoint: A visual journey through Lesbos, the gateway to Europe] | [Special report: The Waypoint: A visual journey through Lesbos, the gateway to Europe] |
| The Turkish coast guard said three ships, a helicopter and team of divers were searching the partially submerged craft and surrounding seas for more bodies. Police on shore placed bodies in black bags. Journalists tried to interview some of the 75 survivors, but police took them away in buses: Some bound for a local hospital to be treated for hypothermia and injuries; others into police custody for questioning. | The Turkish coast guard said three ships, a helicopter and team of divers were searching the partially submerged craft and surrounding seas for more bodies. Police on shore placed bodies in black bags. Journalists tried to interview some of the 75 survivors, but police took them away in buses: Some bound for a local hospital to be treated for hypothermia and injuries; others into police custody for questioning. |
| A Turkish government official said rescuers had recovered bodies trapped inside the wreckage of the 56-foot boat, which sank shortly after departing from the shore. Saim Eskioglu, deputy governor for the coastal Canakkale province that includes Ayvacik, said the boat “hit rocks soon after it left the coast.” | A Turkish government official said rescuers had recovered bodies trapped inside the wreckage of the 56-foot boat, which sank shortly after departing from the shore. Saim Eskioglu, deputy governor for the coastal Canakkale province that includes Ayvacik, said the boat “hit rocks soon after it left the coast.” |
| “There were around 10 children among the dead,” Eskioglu told the Associated Press. “Four of them, unfortunately, were babies about 1 or 2 years old. We are deeply saddened.” | “There were around 10 children among the dead,” Eskioglu told the Associated Press. “Four of them, unfortunately, were babies about 1 or 2 years old. We are deeply saddened.” |
| Eskioglu and Ayvacik’s mayor, Mehmet Unal Sahin, said most of the migrants were Syrians. The Anadolu Agency said the boat also bore natives of Afghanistan and Myanmar. | Eskioglu and Ayvacik’s mayor, Mehmet Unal Sahin, said most of the migrants were Syrians. The Anadolu Agency said the boat also bore natives of Afghanistan and Myanmar. |
| A private Turkish news agency, Dogan, said police arrested a Turkish man suspected of being the smuggler who organized Saturday’s failed sea crossing. The man denied responsibility, saying had relatives on board. | A private Turkish news agency, Dogan, said police arrested a Turkish man suspected of being the smuggler who organized Saturday’s failed sea crossing. The man denied responsibility, saying had relatives on board. |
| The International Organization for Migration says drowning deaths are running at four times the rate of 2015, when many thousands daily sought to enter the European Union via Turkey by reaching one of more than a dozen offshore Greek islands, chiefly Lesbos. | The International Organization for Migration says drowning deaths are running at four times the rate of 2015, when many thousands daily sought to enter the European Union via Turkey by reaching one of more than a dozen offshore Greek islands, chiefly Lesbos. |
| The agency recorded 805 drowning deaths of migrants on Turkey-Greece sea routes in 2015, and 218 this month before Saturday’s tragedy. | The agency recorded 805 drowning deaths of migrants on Turkey-Greece sea routes in 2015, and 218 this month before Saturday’s tragedy. |
| Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said the death toll was “increasing at an alarming rate.” | Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said the death toll was “increasing at an alarming rate.” |
| — Associated Press | — Associated Press |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| David Cameron blasted for calling people in refugee camp ‘a bunch of migrants’ | David Cameron blasted for calling people in refugee camp ‘a bunch of migrants’ |
| More European nations are barring their doors to migrants | More European nations are barring their doors to migrants |
| Masked men threaten to attack refugee children in Stockholm | Masked men threaten to attack refugee children in Stockholm |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |