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A rubber dinghy capsized off the Turkish island of Gokceada in the Aegean Sea, leading to the deaths of at least 22 people, including seven children.

The local governor’s office released a statement detailing the incident and the efforts of the Turkish coastguard, who discovered the bodies. The statement, however, did not disclose the nationalities of those who perished.

Following the accident, the Turkish coastguard rescued two individuals from the sea near the town of Eceabat in Canakkale province. In addition, two survivors managed to reach the shore independently. Governor Ilhami Aktas, in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency, provided details on the rescue operation. The response to the incident included numerous ambulances ready at the port of Kabatepe and a comprehensive search-and-rescue operation involving one plane, two helicopters, one drone, 18 boats, and 502 personnel.

This comes as Turkey has experienced an uptick in migrants attempting to reach the Greek islands via the sea from Turkey’s western coasts, aiming for a better life in the European Union. The Aegean Sea has been identified as a particularly dangerous route for migrants and refugees, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) noting at least 3,129 deaths and disappearances since 2017.

Relations between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, have been strained due to issues related to migrants and other longstanding disputes. Each country has accused the other of improper handling of migrants. Despite these tensions, there have been recent diplomatic efforts to address these and other issues.