Ankara, December 24 (RHC)-- At least eight refugees, among them six children, have lost their lives and 14 others gone missing after enormous waves struck their overloaded boat in the Aegean Sea, and tipped it over.

They were heading to the Greek island of Lesbos early on Thursday, when their wooden boat capsized not more than three kilometers off the shores of Bademli village in Turkey's western province of Izmir.

Turkish coastguards are now searching the area for the missing, amid reports that more refugees could be stuck under the overturned deck. The tragedy came only five days after at least 18 refugees died when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea en route to the Greek island of Kalymnos.

Some 14 others on the boat were pulled to safety by the Turkish coastguard. Those on board reportedly came from different countries, including Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.