VAN-CALDIRAN (A.A) - 30.05.2002 - Bodies of seven foreigners who had frozen to death in Caldiran township of eastern province of Van about one month ago as they had been trying to enter Turkey illegally from Iran, were recovered on Thursday.
Van Governor Durmus Koc told the A.A correspondent that security forces patrolling in the border region near Doguvan hamlet in Gulderen village in Caldiran recovered seven bodies.
He said, ''I think these bodies of four men, two women and a girl came to the sight when snow began to melt. They could not be identified. The bodies spread to an area of 50-metre diameter. Search works have been continuing in the area. We fear that number of foreigners who died will increase up to 20. I think that these foreigners had tried to enter Turkey illegally one month ago. Snow remain on the ground for eight or nine months in this region. When the snow started to melt, they came to the sight.''
Koc added, ''meanwhile, security forces captured 22 Iraqis in Van yesterday who have entered Turkey illegally. They will be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.''