ISTANBUL -- Seven irregular migrants were killed, and 19 others were rescued on Tuesday when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea off Turkiye's western province of Izmir, the Turkish Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard said in a statement that 19 irregular migrants stranded on Karaada Island have been rescued while seven others were confirmed dead.

It added that a rescue team consisting of frogmen, backed by a helicopter, is still working to search for one missing.

The destination of the migrants was not immediately clear. The Aegean Sea has been an important route for migrants trying to reach Europe via Turkiye.

Official statistics released on Tuesday showed that the total number of migrants intercepted off Turkish coasts has reached 24,303 so far this year.

Additionally, 137 smugglers have been detained during the same period.?