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| Migrant crisis: '24 dead' off Turkey as boat sinks | Migrant crisis: '24 dead' off Turkey as boat sinks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 24 migrants have died off the Turkish coast trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, Turkish media say. | At least 24 migrants have died off the Turkish coast trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, Turkish media say. |
| The victims, including children, drowned when their boat capsized after setting off from Balikesir province. | The victims, including children, drowned when their boat capsized after setting off from Balikesir province. |
| About 400 people have died crossing into Europe in 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says. | About 400 people have died crossing into Europe in 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says. |
| Most were travelling to Greece on their way to northern Europe. Recent fighting in Syria has sent thousands of people fleeing towards the Turkish border. | Most were travelling to Greece on their way to northern Europe. Recent fighting in Syria has sent thousands of people fleeing towards the Turkish border. |
| The sea route from Turkey to Greece was the most popular way for migrants to try and enter Europe in 2015. | The sea route from Turkey to Greece was the most popular way for migrants to try and enter Europe in 2015. |
| Migrant crisis: In depth report | Migrant crisis: In depth report |
| Crisis in graphics | Crisis in graphics |
| In the latest incident, the migrants departed from the Altinoluk area in western Turkey, and their boat capsized two miles into the crossing, Hurriyet newspaper said. | In the latest incident, the migrants departed from the Altinoluk area in western Turkey, and their boat capsized two miles into the crossing, Hurriyet newspaper said. |
| The paper denied earlier media reports that another migrant boat had capsized further south off Izmir province. | The paper denied earlier media reports that another migrant boat had capsized further south off Izmir province. |
| News of the deaths came as Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Turkey to discuss ways of reducing the number of migrants travelling to Europe. | |
| After talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Mrs Merkel said they had agreed to seek help from Nato - both countries are members - in handling the migrant crisis. | |
| She said they would use the next meeting of the alliance to consider "to what extent Nato can be helpful with the surveillance situation at sea'' and support the EU border agency Frontex. | |
| The IOM says close to 69,000 people have already arrived on Greek shores so far this year, despite often stormy conditions, compared to almost 854,000 in the whole of last year. | The IOM says close to 69,000 people have already arrived on Greek shores so far this year, despite often stormy conditions, compared to almost 854,000 in the whole of last year. |
| Nearly half of those who have arrived in Greece this year are from Syria, the IOM says. | Nearly half of those who have arrived in Greece this year are from Syria, the IOM says. |
| But thousands of Syrians seeking to flee a government offensive in Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, are being prevented from leaving their homeland. | But thousands of Syrians seeking to flee a government offensive in Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, are being prevented from leaving their homeland. |
| Turkey has so far closed the border to most of the 30,000 migrants gathering at the Kilis border crossing, despite appeals by EU leaders to let them cross. | Turkey has so far closed the border to most of the 30,000 migrants gathering at the Kilis border crossing, despite appeals by EU leaders to let them cross. |
| After her talks in Ankara, Mrs Merkel said: "In the past days we have been not only shocked but horrified by the human suffering of tens of thousands of people through bomb attacks predominantly carried out by the Russian side." | After her talks in Ankara, Mrs Merkel said: "In the past days we have been not only shocked but horrified by the human suffering of tens of thousands of people through bomb attacks predominantly carried out by the Russian side." |
| Mr Davutoglu said his country would accept the migrants "when necessary", and that it would reveal plans next week to slow the flow of arrivals. | Mr Davutoglu said his country would accept the migrants "when necessary", and that it would reveal plans next week to slow the flow of arrivals. |
| Turkish media reactions | |
| Calls from EU leaders for Turkey to open its borders to Syrian refugees have been criticised by both pro-government and opposition commentators in Turkey. | |
| The opposition daily Cumhuriyet says: "While the EU is increasing security measures and closing borders to immigrants, it is asking Turkey to let them in." | |
| The pro-government Yeni Safak says the calls from EU leaders are redolent of "hypocrisy". The paper describes the treatment of immigrants in Europe as "inhumane". | |
| A columnist for the centre-right paper Hurriyet, Fatih Cekirge, also expresses indignation. He says world powers have different agendas with regard to Syria, but they are all sending the same message: "Don't come to Europe as a refugee, but die far from us." | |