Child drowning incidents in Turkey

In late July 2026, a two‑year‑old boy, Kadir Tohum, disappeared from a residential site in İnegöl, Bursa and was later found dead in the complex’s swimming pool. Emergency responders attempted resuscitation, but he could not be revived. His body was taken to his hometown of Gaziantep for funeral rites.

A week later, in early August 2026, 12‑year‑old student Ertuğrul Akyüz drowned in an excavated, water‑filled pit in the Sivri Çayı stream bed in Oltu, Erzurum Province. Rescue teams used an excavator to lower the water level before recovering his body. He was subsequently buried after funeral prayers.

These separate tragedies, occurring in different Turkish regions within a short span, have drawn renewed attention to child safety around water hazards and the need for stricter site security and emergency response measures. No further child‑related drowning incidents have been reported in Turkey as of early August 2026.