A boat carrying 15 immigrants reportedly hoping to enter Greece sank in waters between Turkish and Greek coasts, private Dogan News Agency said Thursday.

The sinking was reported to the Greek authorities by immigrants aboard another boat that was carrying nearly 40 immigrants, which was seized by Greek coast guards early Thursday near Greece's Chios Island, about 10 km from Turkey's coastal Bodrum district, the report said.

Turkey has been informed about the accident as well and both countries are searching for survivors, Dogan said.

It is not yet clear where the two boats departed.

Thousands of illegal immigrants cross the Aegean Sea and Greek land borders every year, the vast majority via Turkey.