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ISTANBUL, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 refugees drowned on Saturday morning when their boat capsized in the Aegean Sea while attempting to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, Turkish media reported.
The ill-fated boaters, seeking better lives in Europe, departed from Ayvacik in Turkey's western province of Canakkale, the official Anadolu Agency said.
"According to the preliminary report, twelve people drown in the sea while 25 refugees have been saved by Turkish coast guards," Anadolu quoted Governor of Canakkale Hamza Erkal as saying.
The bodies have been brought back to Ayvacik, while the rescue operation is still going on.
The boat carried 48 to 52 refugees who are believed to be Syrians, eye witnesses told Turkish officials, though their nationalities have not been announced.
Turkish Dogan news agency said the death toll has climbed to 17.
About 400,000 refugees have illegally entered Greece via Turkey in 2015, but more than 3,000, mostly Syrians, have lost their lives in boat accidents across the Aegean.
The issue of refugees is set to dominate the meeting slated for Sunday in Istanbul between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish leaders.
Turkey and the European Union have inked a draft agreement on refugees, under which the bloc will offer three billion euros (3.4 billion U.S. dollars) in financial aid for the resettlement of refugees in Turkey.
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