Bodies Of Suspected Refugees Wash Ashore On Turkey's Aegean Coast (3)

(updates death toll)

The bodies of at least nine refugees who were attempting to cross to Greece have washed up in the Aegean district of Ayvalık after their boat overturned in stormy weather amid fears that the death toll could rise.

A total of 22 refugees were attempting the crossing between İzmir's Dikili district and Greece's Lesbos Island when they encountered rough weather that caused their boat to capsize at around 5 a.m.

The bodies began washing up at about 5 a.m. on Jan. 5 on the shore of a housing development, Martı Site, in Ayvalık's Altınova Neighborhood.

Coast Guard teams managed to rescue eight refugees after conducting a search at sea, while gendarmerie teams also began scouring the coastline for signs of other migrants. - Balıkesir