At least 4 killed as migrant boat sinks near western Turkey

At least four people were killed on Saturday when a boat with illegal migrants sank in the Aegean Sea near Balikesir province in western Turkey, private Dogan news agency reported.
The boat carrying eight Afghan nationalities headed for Greece and sank off the coast of Ayvalik town of Balikesir province, said the report, adding that four people including one child were killed and four others are missing.
One helicopter, one plane and a team of divers have been dispatched to the scene as rescue efforts continue, said the report.
On Monday, a boat carrying 43 Afghan illegal migrants sank off the northwest coast of Istanbul, killing at least 26 people, with 11 missing and six others rescued, private Dogan news agency reported on Saturday.
Turkish rescue teams have been continuing their efforts to rescue the missing Afghan nationalities near Rumeli Feneri of the Bosphorus strait, according to the report.
The number of illegal migrants trying to reach Europe through Turkey has dramatically increased in recent years amid violence and conflicts in such places as Syria.
In September, a boat with 82 migrants was rescued off the northern coast of Istanbul.