Turkish authorities launched a search and rescue work involving helicopters and boats after the ferry carrying irregular migrants across Lake Van capsized.

Search teams have so far recovered six bodies, the officials said.

The ferry was carrying between 55 and 60 migrants when it went down in stormy weather, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

The migrants were believed to be from Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

The Lake Van is located near the Turkish border with Iran, from where migrants regularly cross into Turkey.

Turkey has traditionally been a major transit port for irregular immigrants to enter the European countries.

According to the official reports, 454,662 irregular migrants held across the country in 2019. (ILKHA)