Migrant boat heading to Greece from Turkey sinks, 13 dead

Turkish coastguards rescued 205 migrants from the wooden boat in the Greek island of Kos

ANKARA: At least 13 migrants including four children trying to reach Greece drowned Tuesday when their boat from Turkey sank in international waters, local media reported.

Turkish coastguards rescued 205 migrants from the wooden boat which set off from Turkish holiday resort town of Datca in the southwest for the Greek island of Kos, the private Dogan news agency said. The nationalities of the migrants are not yet known.

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Rescue efforts were still continuing, according to the news agency.

There has been a dramatic spike in the numbers of migrants -- mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Africa -- seeking to leave Turkey in rickety boats for Greece in the hope of finding new lives in the European Union.

An image of drowned three-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi lying face-down on a Turkish beach after his family attempted to reach Kos sparked a wave of emotion across Europe, which is divided over how to respond to the crisis.

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His four-year-old brother, Ghaleb, and their mother, Rihana also drowned when their boat sank.