Three individuals perished, and four individuals are unaccounted for following a migrant vessel encountering difficulties in the Aegean Sea as reported by the Turkish coastguard. The incident occurred near the coastal area close to Izmir, a popular resort in western Turkey, where 38 individuals were successfully rescued from the inflatable rubber boat as it began to take on water.
The tragic event unfolded off the coast of Foca, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Greek island of Lesbos, a frequently used entry point by migrants aiming to reach the European Union. The coastguard stated that search efforts are currently in progress to locate the four missing migrants, with multiple vessels and helicopters being deployed for the operation.
According to the UN migration agency, at least 524 migrants have lost their lives or gone missing in the Mediterranean since the beginning of this year. In the previous year, the agency documented 1,873 cases of missing or deceased migrants attempting the perilous journey across the sea.
