A boat suspected of carrying migrants from Afghanistan and Syria sank on Monday at around five in the morning off the Istanbul coast in Turkey and has left around 24 people dead, dozens missing, and six rescued.

According to the city governor's office, they already deployed seven coast guard vessels, drivers, a helicopter and fishing boats in the area where the boat sank as they scan for more survivors. The statement released noted that there were also diving teams in the area especially in the Black Sea and three miles away from the suspected spot where the boat sank.

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They added that there were about 40 people on board but it was still unclear what caused the boat to sink and where the boat sailed from.

Col. Sakir Cicek from the Turkish Military general staff command said in a statement that people on the boat were believed to be from the above-mentioned area but they still have to confirm. Cicek also reported that the boat sank at the Bosphorus strait of Istanbul.

However, a news website called Huriyet reported that the boat had 43 illegal Afghan migrants, which included seven women and 12 children and they were led by a Turkish captain. The news website also pressed that these migrants were headed for Bulgaria or Romania but the investigation is still underway making all information released to the public unverified.

According to a witness, the people had life jackets on them but there were dead bodies everywhere. There were also a lot of babies and children but the witness did not give further information about the possible ages of the young people involved in the unfortunate event.

The boat reportedly issued a distress call before it sank at about three miles north of the Bosphorus Strait in the Black Sea. 

TagsMigrant boat, Turkey, Bosphorus, Istanbul, sunken boat