ISTANBUL, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- One migrant was killed and seven others remain missing after a boat partially sank in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Türkiye's western port city of Izmir on Saturday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Yerlikaya said Coast Guard teams rescued 37 migrants from a half-submerged rubber boat that had taken on water due to adverse weather conditions.
Search and rescue efforts backed by a Coast Guard helicopter have been ongoing for the missing, according to Yerlikaya.
Video footage shared by Yerlikaya shows migrants aboard the boat waving and calling for help.
The nationalities of the passengers and the boat's intended destination were not immediately disclosed.
The Aegean Sea is a major route for migrants attempting to reach Europe via Türkiye, which currently hosts around 4 million migrants, including Syrians under temporary protection, according to the Interior Ministry. ■
