18 people reported drowned in Aegean Sea

According to a first reconstruction of events worked out from their testimony, the migrants set sail from the Turkish seaside resort of Bodrum, in the southeast of the country, on board an old boat that capsized two nautical miles from the Turkish coast.

The wooden boat was reportedly carrying migrants from Iraq, Pakistan and Syria to the island of Kalymnos.

Iranian media reports said that at least 14 people were rescued by Turkish coastguards in the boat tragedy.

It says Denmark is tightening refugee policies because “too high number of refugees puts pressure on the Danish society and makes it more hard to ensure a successful integration of those who come to Denmark”.

Despite the winter conditions and rougher seas, the exodus has continued but at a slower pace.

Most of the asylum seekers risking lives to reach European countries are from conflict-zones in Iraq, Syria and some African countries.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 781,000 migrants have arrived in Greece by sea since the start of 2015, a lot of them coming from Turkey.

Fourteen people were rescued, but eighteen, including children, were found dead in the sea, the Turkish coast guard informed, Daily Hurriyet reports.

Turkey struck a deal with the European Union on November 29 pledging to help stem the flow of migrants into Europe in return for 3 billion euros of cash for the 2.2 million Syrians Ankara has been hosting, visas and renewed talks on joining the 28-nation bloc.