More than 120 Syrian refugees entered Turkey on Wednesday to flee fighting in their country, increasing the number of refugees to 450, the foreign ministry said.
The Syrian refugees are fleeing a tense northern town, Jisr al—Shughour, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Turkish border.
Syrian residents feared a crackdown by their government following a deadly mutiny of Syrian soldiers that set off fighting with officers and security guards. The Syrian government said 120 of its forces were dead and acknowledged losing “intermittent” control of the area.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said all the refugees, including 122 who arrived overnight, were being sheltered in a tent city set up by Turkey’s Red Crescent, the equivalent of the Red Cross, in the border town of Yayladagi.
More than 30 Syrian refugees have been treated at Turkish hospitals for wounds they suffered in clashes in northern Syria, authorities said. One Syrian has died.
Turkey has said it is prepared to deal with a mass influx of Syrian refugees.
