14 Migrants drown after Boat collides with Turkish Coast Guard vessel during chase

At least 14 migrants drowned after a boat carrying them collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel during a high-speed chase off the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye on Monday, officials said.

The incident occurred near Demre , a coastal district in Antalya Province , when security forces attempted to intercept a boat suspected of transporting migrants trying to enter the country illegally.

According to Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin , the vessel carrying Afghan migrants ignored repeated warnings from the Turkish Coast Guard to stop. Instead, the boat reportedly tried to escape by making sharp manoeuvres at high speed.

During the pursuit, the migrant boat collided with a coast guard vessel. The impact is believed to have destabilised the overcrowded craft, causing several passengers to fall into the sea. Many of them were unable to stay afloat amid the chaos and rough waters, leading to multiple drownings before rescuers could reach them.

Rescue teams quickly launched an operation in the area. Seven migrants were pulled from the sea alive by coast guard personnel and provided immediate medical assistance.

Officials also said that 14 people managed to reach the shoreline on their own. They were later detained by Turkish Gendarmerie units for questioning over illegal migration.

Authorities believe the migrants were part of an irregular migration attempt, possibly aiming to reach Turkish territory by sea. The Mediterranean route has increasingly been used by people fleeing conflict or seeking entry into Europe via Türkiye.

Search and rescue operations involving boats, helicopters and ground teams were continuing in the area to locate anyone who may still be missing.

Officials confirmed that both judicial and administrative investigations have been launched to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the collision and the deaths.