Turkey's Black Sea rip currents trigger large rescue drill and expert warnings

The Samsun Metropolitan Municipality’s Fire Department staged a dramatic rescue exercise on Atakum beach to demonstrate how its 112 lifeguards, jet‑ski units, rescue boats, ATVs and a drone can respond to the Black Sea’s lethal rip ("Çeken") currents. The drill, filmed for the public, showed two beachgoers swept away by the current and rescued within seconds, reinforcing a “zero‑loss” safety goal for the city’s 19 Blue Flag beaches.

Separately, Prof. Dr. Coşkun Erüz of the Trabzon Faculty of Marine Sciences warned that rip currents are a major cause of drownings along Turkey’s northern coast. He highlighted that 86% of Trabzon’s shoreline is lined with hazardous fill‑areas and rocks, leaving very few safe swimming zones, and lamented how recent coastal interventions have distanced the community from the sea.

Both officials emphasized the need for greater public awareness and stricter precautions to prevent further fatalities in the region.