Refugee boat sinks off western Turkey, 14 dead

CANAKKALE, Turkey

Fourteen people drowned off Turkey’s western coast when a boat packed with refugees sank in the early hours of Wednesday, the Turkish Coast Guard said.

The incident is the latest tragedy to affect refugees trying to reach Greek islands from Turkey in often unseaworthy vessels.

A Coast Guard patrol found the sinking boat off the coast of Ayvacik district in Canakkale province - around 10 kilometers (4 miles) from Lesbos - at around 2 a.m. local time (0000GMT).

Among the dead were seven children. The Coast Guard was able to rescue 27 people from the stricken vessel. It is not known why the boat sank.

The casualties’ nationalities are yet to be released. Coast Guard divers are searching the area around the site of the disaster.