River Drownings in Turkey Claim Lives of Multiple Young Men

Search operations for missing individuals who entered fast‑flowing rivers across Turkey ended in tragedy over the past week. In Adıyaman’s Besni district, 18‑year‑old İsa Özkul disappeared while swimming in the Göksu Çayı; his body was recovered five days later in the distant Fırat River. In Erzurum’s Horasan district, 16‑year‑old Okan Koç vanished after entering the Aras Ne hri and his remains were found six days later near the Karakurt Barajı. In the Antalya region, 26‑year‑old Ahmet Polat went missing in the Alara Çayı, and his family continues to await news despite intensive rescue efforts. In Bursa’s Osmangazi district, 25‑year‑old Yunus Emre Türk was found deceased in the Nilüfer Çayı after a two‑day search. All incidents prompted coordinated responses involving AFAD, local police, jandarma, dive teams and fire‑rescue units, with drones and dogs deployed to aid the searches. Authorities have opened investigations into each death while families mourn the losses.