Search efforts for businessman Halit Yukay continue on day 6: New leads discovered

The search for businessman Halit Yukay (43), whose boat was found shattered and semi-submerged after he set sail from Yalova for Bozcaada, continues on its 6th day. Thirteen divers from the Bursa, Çanakkale, and Samsun police departments are conducting underwater dives to find any trace of Yukay. Search efforts have intensified following the discovery of boat debris washed up on the rocks north of Paşalimanı Island.

TATLITUĞ JOINS THE SEARCH EFFORTS

Famous actor Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ also joined the search efforts. Diving alongside Coast Guard teams, Tatlıtuğ also conducted aerial searches using a drone. In a post on his social media account, Tatlıtuğ indicated that reconnaissance should be carried out along the Çanakkale coast. Stating that he spoke with Halit Yukay on the phone on the day of the incident, Tatlıtuğ said that Yukay had planned to pick up his family in Bozcaada and join his own family, who were vacationing in Greece.

While it was learned that Tatlıtuğ and his friends were searching the Çanakkale coastline with private boats, the search for Halit Yukay is also continuing along the Balıkesir coastline.

SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED WITH ROV DEVICE

If the current search efforts do not yield results, there are plans to use an ROV device to be obtained from the İzmir Police Department to search the seabed at depths of up to 300 meters. This device aims to help find more leads by capturing high-resolution underwater images.

BOAT DEBRIS FOUND

A significant development occurred in the search efforts. Pieces of Halit Yukay's boat were found washed up on the rocks north of Paşalimanı Island. These pieces, which were recovered from the shore by Coast Guard teams, have been taken for detailed analysis. Teams are carefully scanning the rocky areas in the region to try and find further clues.

INVESTIGATION INTO THE BOAT CONTINUES

Halit Yukay set sail on August 4th from Yalova, heading toward Bozcaada. When he could not be reached later that day, his relatives notified the authorities. On August 5th, a report was received from a commercial vessel off the coast of Erdek, Balıkesir, stating that semi-submerged boat parts were spotted on the sea surface. Coast Guard teams arrived at the scene, and an examination confirmed that the engine serial number of the debris matched the boat belonging to Halit Yukay.

The wreckage of Halit Yukay's boat, named 'Graywolf', was towed to Ekinlik Island and brought ashore. The Marmara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an expert investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

DRY CARGO SHIP CAPTAIN ARRESTED

The captain of the dry cargo ship 'Arel 7', identified as C.T. (61), was detained in Yalova in connection with the incident. Initially released by the court under judicial control with a travel ban, C.T. was re-detained in Istanbul following an appeal by the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. He was subsequently arrested and sent to prison.

Coast Guard teams identified scrape marks on the bow of the dry cargo ship. These marks are believed to indicate that the 'Arel 7' collided with the boat. As the search efforts and investigation continue, intensive inspections are being carried out both on the sea surface and underwater.

News Source: 12punto