2 children drowned in Fırtına Creek! CHP's Tahsin Ocaklı on 'negligence': 'These are the responsibility of political institutions'

Burak DEMİRBAŞ-12punto.com.tr

In the Ardeşen district of Rize, 6 students from the Presidency of Religious Affairs-affiliated Tulunoğlu Dursun Efendi Regional Boarding Quran Course were swept away by the current in an artificial lake in the Fırtına Valley. 

Upon notification, AFAD, marine police, gendarmerie, coast guard, AKUT, and 112 Emergency Health teams were dispatched to the scene.

The four injured individuals pulled from the water by the teams were taken to the hospital after receiving intervention at the scene.

Two of the injured children could not be saved despite interventions at Kaçkar State Hospital. The treatments of the injured children V.E. and Y.G. continue in hospitals in Rize. 

QURAN COURSE INSTRUCTOR DETAINED

The Ardeşen District Governorate, in a statement made following the drowning of two Quran course students, noted the following:

“Upon 6 Quran Course students entering the water to cool off in Fırtına Creek in our Ardeşen district of Rize being swept away by the current, 1 Quran Course Instructor entered the water to save the youths and also faced the danger of drowning. As a result of the work carried out by the teams, 2 of the 5 people rescued alive were taken to intensive care, and the lifeless bodies of 2 people were recovered. Search and rescue efforts were completed in a short time. A total of 63 personnel participated in the search efforts, including 27 AFAD personnel, as well as Marine Police, JAK, Coast Guard, 112 Emergency Health and AKUT teams, Coast Guard Patrol, and rafting and canoeing guides who know the region well. A judicial investigation has been initiated by the Pazar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and an administrative investigation by the Ardeşen District Governorate regarding the incident, and one person has been detained in connection with the incident.”

"IT IS NOT A SITUATION THAT WILL END WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ONE PERSON"

Stating that the condition of one child who was taken to the hospital as an injured party remains critical, Ocaklı, in his evaluation to 12punto regarding the detention of one person, stated that he would follow the incident, saying, "This is not a situation that will end with the responsibility of one person. They detained a teacher or the teacher they went with here. A religious studies teacher's responsibility regarding the safety of these students is not sufficient."

"IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS"

Ocaklı continued his words as follows:

"A religious studies teacher teaches religious studies. There are others who should ensure safety there. Here, there is the Minister of Interior, the Minister of National Education, and the Presidency of Religious Affairs. These are the responsibility of political institutions. Therefore, we will see whether those who were negligent will be revealed through the investigation and whether they will receive the necessary punishment. For now, we must express the pain of the families, we must talk. We will follow the process from now on."

News Source: 12punto