At least 14 people have died after an inflatable boat carrying migrants or refugees collided with a vessel operated by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coast of Antalya Province in southwestern Türkiye, authorities said.
The incident occurred early Monday near the coastal district of Finike. According to the coast guard, the high-speed inflatable boat was detected during patrol operations and was ordered to stop.
Officials said the vessel attempted to flee despite repeated warnings. During the pursuit, the migrant boat collided with a coast guard vessel.
Rescue teams recovered 14 bodies following the crash.
Six migrants and one Turkish national were rescued from the water, authorities said. Another 15 people aboard the boat managed to reach shore and were later detained by security forces.
Authorities did not immediately release further details about the migrants’ nationalities or their intended destination. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The eastern Mediterranean remains a major route used by migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe, often traveling in overcrowded and unsafe boats operated by smuggling networks.