# Turkey search and rescue operations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-river-rescue-incidents > Updated: 2026-07-27T00:59:02.000Z. Sources: 53. Developments: 16. Search and rescue efforts across Turkey have continued throughout July 2026, involving AFAD, the gendarmerie, fire services, health units, the coast‑guard, police underwater teams and civilian volunteers. Incidents have spanned rivers, lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters, with notable cases including the July 4 death at Onaç Dam, the July 10 electrocution and maritime collision in Yalova, the July 17 Kocasu River tragedy, and the late‑July disappearances of teenagers in the Büyük Menderes River. The multi‑day operation for 36‑year‑old Salih Arslantaş near an irrigation canal in Serik persisted into late July, with underwater teams seeking to lower water levels. On 27 July a five‑member family from Kulak Mahallesi, Tarsus, entered the sea to cool off; strong waves separated them. Father Savaş Öztürk, mother Zehra Öztürk, aunt Ceylan Dağşan and 16‑year‑old nephew Halil Öztürk were found dead, while daughter Fatma Öztürk was rescued and hospitalized in good condition. The rescue operation deployed two coast‑guard boats, an AFAD boat, a police boat, four divers and land teams of police, gendarmerie, firefighters and medical staff. Governor Atilla Toros supervised the response and addressed the public. Governor Atilla Toros continues to coordinate ongoing shoreline searches, and authorities remain alert to further water‑related emergencies. ## Claims - The incident occurred on 27 July 2026 at Kulak Mahallesi, Tarsus district, Mersin Province, Turkey. (corroborated by 14 sources) - Four members of the family were confirmed dead in the incident. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Father Savaş Öztürk (42), mother Zehra Öztürk (39) and aunt Ceylan Dağşan (30) were found dead after being swept away by sea waves in Kulak Mahallesi, Tarsus, Mersin. (corroborated by 12 sources) - 16‑year‑old daughter Fatma Öztürk was rescued, taken to hospital and is reported to be in improving condition. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Halil Öztürk (16) was found dead, his body recovered, raising the confirmed death toll to four. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Mersin Governor Atilla Toros coordinated the rescue effort and provided statements about the incident. (corroborated by 11 sources) - 16‑year‑old nephew Halil Öztürk remains missing and a search operation is ongoing. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The search involves two coast‑guard boats, one AFAD boat, one police boat and four divers, plus land teams from police, gendarmerie, AFAD, fire‑fighters and health services. (corroborated by 10 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-07-27: Four dead in Mersin’s Tarsus family drowning incident Four members of a family drowned at Kulak Mahallesi, Tarsus, Mersin on 27 July 2026; daughter Fatma Öztürk was rescued, while nephew Halil Öztürk’s body was later found. 28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/three-dead-one-missing-after-family-swept-away-in-mersin-sea-tragedy ### 2026-07-22: Search continues for missing Serik worker Salih Arslantaş Missing Serik greenhouse worker Salih Arslantaş was last seen near an irrigation canal; his bike and belongings were found, prompting a multi‑agency underwater search that continues. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-children-found-dead-after-disappearing-in-turkeys-byk-menderes-river ### 2026-07-17: Two Siblings Drown in Muş River, Younger Brother’s Body Recovered After Three Days Two brothers fell into Muş’s Kocasu River; the 8‑year‑old died after rescue, and the 6‑year‑old’s body was found three days later following a large‑scale search. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-siblings-drown-in-turkeys-bulank-district-one-dead-and-one-missing ### 2026-07-10: Yalova accidents claim a father and son, rescue two boaters after tanker collision Two separate Yalova accidents: an electrocution kills a father and son at a workshop, and a water‑tanker collision forces two boaters to jump into the sea, both rescued. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yalova-accidents-claim-a-father-and-son-rescue-two-boaters-after-tanker-collision ### 2026-07-04: Man Drowns at Onaç Dam in Burdur, Turkey A 30‑year‑old man drowned while swimming at Onaç Dam in Burdur, Turkey; rescue teams retrieved his body after three hours and an investigation is under way. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/man-drowns-at-ona-dam-in-burdur-turkey ### 2026-07-03: Teenage Fishing Drownings Reported in Eastern Turkey's Muş and Diyarbakır Two teenage cousins drowned while fishing in Muş, Turkey, and a 25‑year‑old remains missing after a similar fishing trip in Diyarbakır; rescue teams are searching the rivers. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/teenage-fishing-drownings-reported-in-eastern-turkeys-mu-and-diyarbakr ### 2026-07-03: Two young men drown in İznik Lake near Bursa, Turkey On July 5 2026, 21‑year‑old Ismail Imamoğlu and 19‑year‑old Bünyamin Kadı drowned while swimming in İznik Lake near Bursa, Turkey; their bodies were recovered after two hours and they were buried locally. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-young-men-drown-in-bursas-iznik-lake ### 2026-07-02: Gemerek, Turkey River Drowning Leaves One Child Dead, Another Missing Three youths were swept by Kızılırmak River in Gemerek, Turkey; one child was found dead, another rescued, and a third remains missing as rescue teams continue searches. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gemerek-turkey-river-drowning-leaves-one-child-dead-another-missing ### 2026-07-01: Two friends found dead after vehicle plunged into river valley in Kastamonu, Turkey Two friends, Cihan Taş and İsmail Ersoy, were found dead after their Fiat rolled ~75 m into a river valley in Kastamonu’s Taşköprü district; rescue teams recovered the bodies after a two‑hour effort. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/two-friends-found-dead-after-vehicle-plunged-into-river-valley-in-kastamonu-turkey ### 2026-06-21: Turkish fathers drown or are critically injured rescuing children in seaside incidents Two Turkish fathers attempted to rescue their children in coastal drownings; one died in Trabzon and the other, along with his children, was hospitalized in critical condition in İzmir. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-fathers-drown-or-are-critically-injured-rescuing-children-in-seaside-incidents ### 2026-06-15: River Drownings in Turkey Claim Lives of Multiple Young Men Multiple river drownings in Turkey — İsa Özkul (Adıyaman), Okan Koç (Erzurum), Ahmet Polat (Antalya) and Yunus Emre Türk (Bursa) — ended with bodies recovered after days of coordinated rescue searches. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-authorities-continue-river-searches-for-missing-men ### 2026-06-12: Search continues for missing teen in Adıyaman's Göksu River Four youths entered Adıyaman's Göksu River; three were rescued while 20‑year‑old İsa Ö. remains missing as rescue teams continue searches. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/search-continues-for-missing-teen-in-adyamans-gksu-river ### 2026-06-08: German tourist rescued after four-hour search near Çıralı, Turkey German tourist lost near Çıralı, Turkey, was rescued after four hours by AFAD and gendarmerie; he was unharmed. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-tourist-rescued-after-four-hour-search-near-ral-turkey ### 2026-06-07: CHP Karabük Deputy Chairman Mustafa Erten Found Dead After Falling into Filyos River CHP Karabük deputy chairman Mustafa Erten, 72, fell into the Filyos River during a toilet break; a multi‑agency search recovered his body after 11 hours, prompting local officials' condolences and an ongoing 조사 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chp-deputy-mustafa-erten-missing-after-river-fall-in-karabk ### 2026-06-06: 84‑Year‑Old Yatağan Resident Found Dead After Three‑Day Search 84‑year‑old Gülayşe Çoban of Yatağan, Turkey, was found dead after a three‑day search involving gendarmerie, AFAD and volunteers; an investigation is underway. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/84yearold-yataan-resident-found-dead-after-threeday-search ### 2026-05-24: Search for missing 54‑year‑old after river accident in Giresun, Turkey Two relatives were swept into Giresun's Yağlıdere River while fishing; the nephew was found dead and the 54‑year‑old man is still missing as coordinated rescue teams continue the search. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/search-continues-for-missing-man-after-fatal-river-accident-in-giresun-turkey --- Cite as: Turkey search and rescue operations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-river-rescue-incidents