ISTANBUL -- At least five people were killed on Thursday when a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized on the Aegean Sea off the coast of Canakkale province in northwestern Turkiye, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The Coast Guard North Aegean Group Command was notified about the sinking of the rubber boat near Ayvacik district, the agency said.

Upon arriving at the scene, rescue teams saved 25 people and transferred them to hospitals in the Balikesir and Canakkale provinces, Anadolu reported, adding that search efforts are ongoing for potential missing individuals.

According to the latest statistics published on the Coast Guard Command's website, 13 migrants have died in Turkiye's waters this year, while 4,880 migrants were intercepted, and 101 people who had engaged in human trafficking were arrested.

The Aegean Sea has long been a key route for migrants attempting to reach Europe via Turkiye.

As one of the world's leading destinations for refugees, Turkiye currently hosts over 4 million migrants, the majority of whom are Syrians, the Presidential Directorate of Communications said.