ANKARA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 84 Syrian refugees in their overloaded boat have been rescued off Turkey's Mediterranean province of Mersin, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.
According to a statement from Mersin Governor's office, the overloaded boat carrying 84 Syrians, including women and children, was stranded off Silifke district of Mersin when it ran into engine trouble on Friday.
The refugees were rescued by Turkish Coast Guard and transferred to safety in boats.
Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of people have made the short but perilous journey across the Mediterranean and Aegean to reach Europe.
Some 192 migrants deaths have been recorded in Mediterranean in first 11 days of 2018, according to UN migration agency, IOM.
The UN appealed for more resettlement places and other safe alternatives to protect refugees.
