02.01.2026 13:51
In Artvin, on the second day of the search efforts for the two missing shepherds, Bülent Gezer and Afghan national Kerimullah Azizulla, who lost their lives in an avalanche disaster along with shepherd Suat Temel, another sad news came. Teams reached the lifeless body of Kerimullah Azizulla around 4:00 PM. The search for Bülent Gezer continues.
A landslide occurred yesterday afternoon in Zekeriya village, located at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level in the Ardanuç district of Artvin. Six shepherds, who wanted to bring their herds of approximately 1,200 small livestock to the Ardanuç direction near the Erzurum border, were caught under the snow. In the region, where the blizzard was also effective, three of the shepherds managed to escape on their own. Upon notification, AFAD and UMKE teams reached the area after construction vehicles cleared the road. The teams initiated a search and rescue operation for three shepherds, one of whom is of Afghan nationality, who were trapped under the snow.
In coordination with the governorship, in addition to AFAD, JAK, Gendarmerie Commando units, Highways, Provincial Special Administration, Ardanuç Municipality, Çoruh Search and Rescue (ÇAK), and Hopa Search and Rescue (HOPAK) teams also supported the search and rescue efforts. In the operations carried out by 15 vehicles and 100 personnel, the lifeless body of livestock owner Suat Temel, who lived in Ardanuç district, was found, and over a thousand small livestock were evacuated to a safe area. Temel's body was taken from the location where it was found and transported to the district state hospital morgue. Search and rescue operations were suspended yesterday due to darkness and adverse weather conditions.
GOVERNOR ERGÜN: EVACUATION OF SMALL LIVESTOCK HAS BEEN ACHIEVED Governor Turan Ergün, who went to the region to coordinate the efforts on-site, stated, "The group of six shepherds was caught under the avalanche with their herd. Three of them are escaping on their own. Our search and rescue team of 100 people is continuing operations in an area of approximately 1 kilometer. As a result of the work, the evacuation of the small livestock has been achieved. Unfortunately, we have reached the lifeless body of one of our citizens."
SEARCH OPERATIONS FOR 2 SHEPHERDS HAVE RESUMED The teams resumed search operations for the two shepherds trapped under the avalanche with the first light of day. In the area where construction vehicles continued their relentless road-clearing efforts due to the heavy snow overnight, no trace of the shepherds has yet been found in the searches that also utilized thermal cameras.
IDENTITIES OF MISSING SHEPHERDS HAVE BEEN REVEALED In the avalanche that occurred in Aksu Plateau at an altitude of 2,300 meters in Artvin, where shepherd Suat Temel lost his life, the identities of the two shepherds trapped under the snow have been revealed. It has been reported that the shepherds, for whom the teams are continuing search efforts, are Bülent Gezer and Kerimullah Azizulla, who is of Afghan nationality.
The Governor of Artvin, Turan Ergün, and the Head of the AFAD Search and Rescue Department, Kartal Muhcı, are also closely following the search operations.
ANOTHER SAD NEWS FROM THE REGION In the operations that were restarted with the first light of the morning, the teams reached the lifeless body of Kerimullah Azizulla, an Afghan national, around 4:00 PM, one of the shepherds trapped under the avalanche. Search efforts for the missing third shepherd, Bülent Gezer, are ongoing.