ANKARA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people died after a boat carrying migrants collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel off the coast of Beymelek neighborhood in Türkiye's Antalya province, authorities said Monday.
"The boat, which attempted to escape after failing to heed the Coast Guard's warning to stop, made contact with a Coast Guard vessel due to its high-speed maneuvers, causing some of the migrants to fall into the sea," Antalya Governor Hulusi Sahin said in a statement.
Sahin said the incident occurred at around 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) when a boat carrying irregular migrants of Afghan nationality, including women and children, was detected off the coast of Beymelek.
Seven migrants that fell in the sea were rescued by Coast Guard units and received initial treatment from first aid teams, Sahin said, adding that search and rescue operations are continuing.
A judicial investigation has been launched by the public prosecutor's office, while the Antalya Governor's Office has also initiated an administrative inquiry into the incident, Sahin added. ■
