LOC23:58
20:58 GMT
ANKARA, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The Turkish coast guard detained about 60 illegal migrants off Bodrum coast in Mugla city, west of Turkey, who were heading to the Greek island of Kos.
The coast guard intercepted a tourist boat on Saturday night carrying 60 Syrian and Iraqi migrants, including children, said Turkey's Anadolu Agency.
The detainees were handed over to security forces in order to transferee them to refugees shelters in Turkey, added the agency.
According to data issued by the UN Refugee Agency, about 806,000 migrants, including 660,700 from Greece, have reached to Europe via the sea since the beginning of this year.
The Turkish coast guard rescued about 14,961 migrants in 574 separate incidents in 2014, according to Prime Ministry figures.
At least 79,489 migrants were rescued at the beginning of this year, while about 200 ones were detained by Turkey, the figures said. (end)
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