Seven people were killed and 64 others rescued after a boat carrying irregular migrants sank off Lake Van in the eastern province of Van.

According to the office of the Van governorate, the boat capsized around 3 a.m. as it approached the shore. The migrants included Pakistani, Bengali and Afghan migrants.

"According to the preliminary investigation, five migrants were killed on the scene. The death toll later increased to seven after two more succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. The 64 rescued migrants were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue teams are still searching for any remaining migrants. An investigation has been launched in to the incident," the office of the Van governorate said. (ILKHA)