ISTANBUL -- At least 3 migrants were killed as a rubber boat carrying 45 migrants partially sank on Thursday in the Aegean Sea, the Turkish Coast Guard Command said in a statement.

It said that the incident took place at around 5:33 am local time (0233 GMT), off the coast of western Türkiye's Izmir, and that helicopters and patrol vessels were immediately dispatched to the area.

Rescue teams arriving at the scene found the boat partially submerged and numerous migrants in the water, it noted.

So far, 38 migrants on board have been rescued, it said, noting that search and rescue operations are ongoing for the remaining four people still missing.

The Aegean Sea is a major route for migrants attempting to reach Europe via Türkiye, which currently hosts around 4 million migrants, including Syrians under temporary protection, according to Turkish authorities.?