At least 10 soldiers drowned on Monday after a tugboat capsized at a military shipyard off western Turkey, Turkish army said.

At least 10 soldiers drowned on Monday after a tugboat capsized at a military shipyard off western Turkey, Turkish army said.

"Ten of our military personnel died and 17 others were injured when our tugboat TGC Degirmendere capsized," the army said in a statement.

Several others including civilians were missing following the accident in the Aegean province of Izmir, which occurred around midday, it said, without elaborating on the cause of the accident.

Six soldiers saved themselves by jumping into the sea, while divers were still searching for the missing, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.

The crew was reportedly attempting to launch the tugboat into the water before it tilted to one side and then capsized.