ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The bodies of nine people, including two babies, were found drowned off the coast of western Turkey on Tuesday (Feb 2), after a boat carrying people to Greece partly capsized, the Turkish coast guard said in a statement.

The fibreglass vessel partially capsized at 5.35am local time off the coast of Seferihisar in Izmir province, close to the Greek Island of Samos.

Two people were rescued swimming to the shore, the coast guard said.

A crackdown on illegal crossing and the dangerous winter conditions have failed to deter tens of thousands from boarding flimsy boats and attempting to cross the Mediterranean waves in the first few weeks of the year.