At least nine refugees drowned early on Tuesday when a migrant boat sank off Turkey's Aegean coast, the media reported.
The bodies of at least nine refugees washed up in Balikesir province, Xinhua cited the report as saying.
A total of 22 migrants had attempted to cross to Greece's Lesbos Island, the report said.
Turkish coast guards were conducting a search and rescue mission for the other migrants, according to the report.
Over 3,000 refugees fleeing war-torn Syria have died on their way to Greek islands via Turkey, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Over 600,000 refugees have reportedly reached Greek islands in 2015, in a crisis that has alarmed the European Union.
The EU and Turkish leaders reached a deal in November for curbing the refugee influx from the Middle East to Europe.
