58 people drown after refugee boat sinks

At least 58 people died and many were missing when a fishing boat carrying more than 100 people who had been promised refuge in Europe sank after hitting rocks off the coast of western Turkey, officials said on Thursday.

Dozens of survivors, mostly from Iraq and Syria, were able to swim through the Aegean waters to shore, only 50 meters away.

The survivors said several people had been trapped below the deck of the submerged vessel, and divers launched an operation to try to find them, though the death toll was expected to rise. Many on board were women and children.