Eight migrants drown off Turkey in latest tragedy

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Eight migrants including six children drowned when their overloaded boat sank in the Aegean Sea on Thursday while heading for the Greek island of Lesbos in the latest tragedy involving refugees trying to enter Europe.

The wooden boat capsized in high waves two miles off the Bademli coast in the Aegean, the private Dogan news agency reported, adding that another 14 migrants were missing.

The Turkish coastguard was hunting for the missing and divers were rushed to the scene after a tip-off that more refugees could be stuck in the deck, Dogan said.

The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said this week more than one million migrants and refugees reached Europe this year, most of them by sea.

The vast majority of people - over 800,000 - landed in Greece, according to the figures.

Greek police said on Wednesday that at least 13 people including seven children, drowned when their boat sank in the Aegean.

Turkey, which is currently playing host to at least 2.2mn Syrian refugees, is a major launch pad for migrants who are seeking better lives in the European Union member states.

The EU is grappling for solutions to mass migrant arrival in Europe, most of them Syrian refugees from Turkey.