At least 14 people, including women and children, died after a migrant boat collided with a coast guard patrol vessel during a high-speed pursuit off Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, according to local authorities.
Officials said the incident occurred during the early hours in waters between two coastal districts along the southern shoreline.
Authorities reported that the situation began shortly after night surveillance detected a fast-moving inflatable boat operating in the area.
Two coast guard patrol vessels were deployed to intercept the craft after monitoring systems identified suspicious activity.
Officials later determined that the boat was carrying migrants believed to be Afghan nationals attempting an irregular sea crossing.
Authorities said the vessel ignored repeated visual and audio warnings from patrol units and attempted to evade interception by maneuvering at high speed.
During the pursuit, the migrant boat suddenly changed direction and collided with one of the coast guard vessels.
The impact threw several passengers into the sea, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation involving multiple maritime units.
Emergency teams later recovered the bodies of 14 people from the water.
Officials said the victims included women and children.
Rescue teams managed to save several survivors, including migrants who had fallen into the sea during the collision.
Among those rescued was one individual suspected by authorities of acting as a smuggler.
Additional migrants remained aboard the damaged boat after the collision and later reached the shoreline where they were detained by security forces.
Survivors were transported to medical facilities for treatment.
Search and rescue operations continued in nearby waters as helicopters, patrol boats and coastal teams scanned the area to ensure no additional people remained missing.
Prosecutors opened a judicial investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the collision, while local authorities also launched an administrative inquiry into the incident.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting irregular crossings in the eastern Mediterranean, a route frequently used by human smuggling networks despite repeated warnings from authorities.
