At least 14 dead after migrant boat sinks off western Turkey

25/10/2025 7:03

At least 14 people drowned when a rubber boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's western province of Mugla on Friday, the local governor's office said, adding that a search and rescue operation was underway for possible survivors.



In a statement, the Mugla Governor's Office said an Afghan man who survived the disaster and swam back to the mainland had raised the alarm shortly after 1:00 a.m.



The Afghan national told the emergency services that 18 people had set out on the rubber boat, but that shortly afterwards it had taken on water and sunk, the governor's office said.



Search and rescue teams found a second survivor who had managed to reach Celebi Island off Bodrum. They also retrieved 14 bodies from the sea.



"Search and rescue efforts for other irregular migrants considered missing continue with four coast guard boats, one coast guard special diving team and one helicopter," the governor's office added.