Istanbul, Rabi'I 13, 1437, December 24, 2015, SPA -- A boat carrying migrants trying to reach Europe capsized off Turkey's shores on Thursday, leaving at least 18 dead, including six children, while operations were ongoing to locate two people still missing at sea, dpa reported. The boat, which was heading towards a Greek island, sank in waters near Izmir, in western Turkey, according to the Turkish Coastguard, quoted by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Despite the cold winter weather, migrant flows to Europe have continued. Many of those taking the dangerous boat rides are Syrians and Afghan refugees, fleeing war. Turkish and Greek coastguards report on the small boats capsizing on an almost daily basis, with children nearly always among the dead. More than 1 million refugees and other migrants have arrived in Europe this year. --SPA 15:04 LOCAL TIME 12:04 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w