Race against time continues for 11-year-old boy missing in Büyük Menderes River
Search efforts for Şahin Özdağ, who was swept away by the current after entering the Büyük Menderes River to cool off in the İncirliova district of Aydın, continue into their fourth day.
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On the evening of July 18, four children who went for a picnic with their friends in the Acarlar neighborhood of İncirliova began spending time by the river to escape the hot weather. Shortly after three of the children entered the water together, they were swept away by the strong current. While one of the children managed to reach the shore on their own, 11-year-old Şahin Özdağ and 15-year-old Eda Kurtulmuş disappeared from sight.
Upon their friends immediately noticing the situation and calling for help, AFAD, fire department, UMKE, gendarmerie search and rescue, and medical teams were dispatched to the area. The teams launched a large-scale operation in and around the river to search for the missing children.
After a day of searching, diving teams reached the lifeless body of Eda Kurtulmuş approximately one kilometer from the point where she went missing. Checks confirmed that the young girl had unfortunately lost her life, and Kurtulmuş was laid to rest amidst the tears of her family and loved ones.
Feverish efforts to find the missing Şahin Özdağ in the river continue without interruption. The operations now include 32 divers, six boats, and drone-supported teams. A total of 90 personnel are involved in the search and rescue operation, which is also utilizing sonar scanning equipment.
While the family and local residents wait hopefully by the river for good news, authorities state that the efforts will continue until results are achieved.