Turkish coast guard rescues 72 asylum seekers from Aegean Sea
Refugees and migrants from Afghanistan, Congo, Guinea and Pakistan were among those rescued off the coast of Foca in Izmir province.
Turkish coast guards rescued 34 refugees from Afghanistan, 18 Congo, 12 Africa, 6 Guinea and 2 Pakistani nationals, including women and children.
Turkish Coast Guard teams rescued at least 72 asylum seekers Monday from four boats in the Aegean Sea.
Acting on a tip-off, the rescue team reached out to the asylum seekers, who were on board inflatable boats that were forced into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard.
The asylum seekers, including Afghans, Congolese, Guineans and Pakistanis, were rescued off the coast of Foca in Izmir province.
They were taken to the provincial migration office.
Following formal procedures asylum seekers were sent to Turkey's Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in country's Aegean province of Izmir.
Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especially since Syria’s civil war started in 2011.
Turkey hosts nearly four million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.
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