18 refugees drown off Turkey's western coast

At least 18 refugees drowned on Sunday when two boats capsized off Turkey's Aegean coast while attempting to reach a Greek Island, Turkish media reported.

The ill-fated boaters, believed to be Syrians, departed from Didim in Turkey's western province of Aydin with two separate boats, the Hurriyet daily reported.

Preliminary report said 15 refugees have been saved by the Turkish coast guard and many more are reported missing, the daily said.

The bodies and wounded refugees have been brought back to Didim, while the rescue operation is still going on.

A special summit is slated for Monday in Brussels between Turkey and the EU countries to push forward a deal aimed at stemming the flow of migrants into Europe.
 [Xinhua]
6-7/3/16