Search for missing 54‑year‑old after river accident in Giresun, Turkey

On May 23‑24, 2026, two relatives named Sedat Çelik – a 54‑year‑old man and his nephew (aged 24‑28) – were swept into the Yağlıdere River while fishing in the Yağlıdere district of Giresun province. The nephew was found dead about 250 m downstream; the older man remains missing.

Rescue operations have involved the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), gendarmerie, Jandarma Search‑Rescue (JAK), municipal fire crews, and volunteer groups such as UMKE, AKUT and İHH. Around 100‑132 personnel, divers from Giresun and Samsun, drones and heavy equipment have been deployed. The mayor of Yağlıdere, Yaşar İbaş, said “the work continues” and thanked the teams for their effort.

The search continues under challenging conditions, with high river flow caused by recent heavy rain and melting snow. The nephew’s body was taken to the local morgue for autopsy, while officials keep the search for the missing man active.