Eight Sierra Leoneans Drowned at the Aegean Sea

The Sierra Leone Embassy in Ankara, Turkey has reported that a total of eight Sierra Leoneans drowned while trying to cross the Aegean Sea into Greece.

A statement from the Embassy said that they communicated to the Turkish Government through a note verbale for their staff to visit the scene and identify the corpse. A team from the Embassy is reported to have visited the city of Izmir where they believe the eight Sierra Leoneans drowned.

The Turkish Government said three of the bodies were showing signs of decomposing and had to bury them.

The remaining five bodies were identified by Mohamed Shaka Sesay, President of the Sierra Leone Community in Turkey.

The Embassy expressed their sympathies to families of the deceased while promising to monitor the situation.

The Aegean Sea is one of the most frequently used illegal crossing point into mainland Europe. Every year hundreds lose their lives trying to reach one of the Greek Islands.