Sakarya lifeguard teams complete fifth consecutive zero-casualty season

Lifeguard teams operating on the Black Sea coasts of Karasu, Kocaali, and Kaynarca in Sakarya have completed the 2026 summer season with zero fatalities. This marks the fifth consecutive year the teams have finished a season without any loss of life.

Under the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, teams responded to a total of 497 incidents during the season. These interventions included 387 cases of near-drowning and 110 instances of locating missing children and returning them to their families.

Samet Karaca, the Lifeguard Group Supervisor, noted that the season officially ran from June 6 to September 13, following a preparation period that began in mid-May. Karaca highlighted that the safety record has helped establish the Karasu and Kocaali coastlines as safe destinations for tourists. To maintain safety, authorities occasionally implemented 24 days of swimming bans during the season due to hazardous conditions.