A migrant boat collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel off the northwest coast of Türkiye on Sunday, leaving five people dead, one critically injured, and another still missing, according to a statement from the local governor’s office.

The deadly incident occurred near the Badavut coast in Ayvalık district, a frequent departure point for migrants attempting to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. Authorities reported that the small high-speed boat was carrying 34 migrants and one suspected trafficker when it struck a coast guard vessel during an early-morning operation.

Rescue teams swiftly recovered the bodies of five people who fell into the sea. A female survivor, gravely injured, was transported to Ayvalık State Hospital, where she remains in critical condition. One individual is still unaccounted for as coast guard units and aerial support continue extensive search operations, hampered by challenging weather conditions.

The suspected trafficker has been detained, and authorities are questioning surviving migrants to establish the origins and intended destination of the voyage.

Preliminary findings suggest that the migrant boat may have been attempting to evade interception at the time of the crash, though investigators are also examining other possible causes, including human error or mechanical failure. Türkiye’s Ministry of Interior is expected to release a detailed report in the coming days.

Türkiye continues to serve as a major transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe. The Ayvalık region, located across from the Greek island of Lesbos, has become a common launch point for risky crossings.

In 2024 alone, the Turkish coast guard intercepted more than 20,000 migrants in the Aegean Sea. Despite stepped-up patrols, tragedies involving overcrowded or unseaworthy boats remain frequent.

Human rights organizations have called for safe and legal migration routes to prevent further loss of life, stressing that many migrants are fleeing war, poverty, and persecution.

Authorities confirmed that the surviving migrants are receiving food, shelter, and medical attention as their cases are processed. Local officials pledged that search efforts would continue until the missing person is found.

“This incident highlights both the grave risks migrants face at sea and the urgent need for international cooperation to address irregular migration,” the governor’s office said in its statement. (ILKHA)