Three dead and four missing after migrant boat sinks off Turkey

Yesterday 16:30

By: Sahili Aya

Three dead and four missing after migrant boat sinks off Turkey

Three people have died and four remain missing after a migrant vessel sank early Thursday in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey, Turkish coast guards reported.

The rubber boat, carrying 45 passengers, began taking on water before dawn near Foça, a district in western Turkey north of the major city of İzmir. Thirty-eight passengers were rescued alive, according to the coast guard.

Foça’s beaches are roughly 30 kilometers from the Greek island of Lesbos, a frequent destination for migrants seeking entry into the European Union. Turkish authorities have deployed several ships and helicopters to continue the search for the missing individuals.

Maritime accidents are common during these dangerous crossings. Only last week, 15 migrants—including four women—died in a collision with a Greek coast guard patrol vessel near Chios, another island close to the Turkish coast.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 524 people have either disappeared or been recovered dead in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2026, compared with 1,873 for the entirety of 2025. The ongoing crisis underscores the persistent risks faced by those attempting perilous sea routes to Europe.