Photo: Anadolu news agency

ISTANBUL, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed as a migrant boat capsized in eastern Turkey's Lake Van, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday. 

The boat carrying migrants capsized at around 3 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) as it sailed close to Adilcevaz district in Bitlis on the northern shores of Lake Van.

Five people were killed on the spot and two died later in hospital. Some 64 others were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment, the report said.

Lake Van Lies in the far east of Turkey near the border with Iran, from where migrants often cross into Turkey before heading west to Europe.

Search operations are still underway.