8 bodies found on Turkish resort shores within a week: authorities investigate cause and identify

An investigation into 8 bodies found on the shores of the Mediterranean province of Antalya is underway in Turkey. In particular, two of the victims were thrown by the current onto the Serik beach.
One of the deceased is probably a Turkish citizen who was previously reported missing, ABC News reports. According to authorities, the other seven bodies found over the past week may belong to migrants from a ship that went missing off the Syrian-Lebanese border last month on its way to Cyprus.
Two bodies were found on the beach of a hotel near Serik, while other victims were found in the resort areas of Manavgat and near Antalya.
According to preliminary estimates, 90 people were on board the missing boat, which lost contact on December 11.
The Antalya Governor's Office reported that the analysis of currents, wind and waves confirms that the bodies were found on the coast of Antalya.
Saadeddin Shatila, executive director of the Cedar Center for Legal Studies, a Lebanese non-profit human rights organization, said that 76 passengers of the missing ship had been identified, and all but the captain were Syrians.
He expressed hope that the results of DNA tests would help identify the victims and bring at least "some hope to the families." Shatila called on international organizations to continue the search for the ship, and on European countries to consider creating safe migration routes so that people do not dare to undertake dangerous sea voyages.
"People choose these boats because they have no other choice," he emphasized.