“It was reported that an inflatable boat was being drifted due to engine breakdown and irregular migrants on the boat called for help off the coast of Balıkesir’s Ayvalık district/Altınova. 29 irregular migrants on the inflatable boat were rescued by CG boats.,” the statement said.

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)