Turkey's coast guard units rescued 57 stranded refugees, including women and children, from a small island in the Aegean Sea, security sources said on Sunday.
According to a statement released by the Coast Guard Command, the group of refugees was stranded in a small island off the Bademli coast of İzmir's Dikili district while en route to Greece illegally.
After receiving a tip off about their situation the Coast Guard Command sent helicopters and rescue boats to the area.
Twelve people including three children were taken to the land by helicopters while 45 others were taken by boats, the statement said.
Aegean and the Mediterranean seas are the most popular ways for refugees to travel to Greece then to Europe.
Turkey rescued hundreds of refugees from drowning in the sea this year as the country increased it security measures to prevent refugees, mostly Syrian, from traveling illegally to Europe.
