Refugees Forced İnto A 44-year-old Boat That Killed 39 People

Initial investigations have revealed that the trip boat which has sunk and killed 39 refugees including 18 children was 44-year-old.

A deadly boat disaster on Jan. 30 has killed 39 people while hundreds of refugees were seeking to cross into Greek islands through Turkey's Aegean province of Çanakkale.

The 7.1-meter-long boat, named "Siyah İnci Assos" was allegedly transporting 114 people at the time, which was a number above its capacity.

The boat was constructed in 1972 and was registered to Istanbul's Şile Port, revealed investigation teams.

The gendarmerie has not found the owner of the boat so far. Thus, the owner's relation with the tragic incident has not been cleared yet.

Every refugee was forced to pay between one and two thousand euros to cross into the islands, said initial reports.

(Photo) - Çanakkale