03.01.2026 18:43
While search efforts continue for Elif Kumal, who disappeared after arguing with her boyfriend while camping in the Erdek district of Balıkesir, District Governor Hasan Göç provided information about the current situation. Göç stated, "Our teams have gone down to the deepest areas and have come back. Again, no results were obtained. Our helicopter has arrived and will come again. It is on standby. It's one thing that we couldn't reach our girl, but how can we not reach the vehicle? This is not easily explainable. There is no exit from our district."
Search efforts continue for 33-year-old Elif Kumal, who went missing after camping with her boyfriend E.G. in the Yukarıyapıcı Pond area of the Kapıdağ Peninsula in Erdek district of Balıkesir on December 27, following a dispute and leaving the area in her own vehicle.
"IT IS INEXPLICABLE THAT WE CANNOT REACH THE VEHICLE"
Balıkesir Deputy Governor Mustafa İlhan, along with Erdek District Governor Hasan Göç and Gendarmerie Regiment Commander Colonel Murat Özer, visited the Kapıdağ Peninsula to closely follow the search efforts for Elif Kumal. District Governor Hasan Göç, who spoke with Elif Kumal's brother İbrahim Kumal and her wife Fatma Kumal, provided information about the efforts, stating: "On the first day, Sunday, there were many off-roaders, motorcyclists, and people from this area here. We searched every inch thoroughly, without missing anything. Our drone came three times, it came again yesterday, and it was here until it got dark, until 21:00. They identified a few points with lasers. Our friends went down to the deepest spots and came back up. Again, no results were obtained. Our helicopter came and will come again. It is on standby. Our drones, we have 16 drones, are continuously scanning the area. It is inexplicable that we cannot reach the vehicle, let alone our girl. There is no exit from our district."
"430 PERSONNEL ON THE FIELD, DIVE WILL BE CONDUCTED AGAIN IN THE POND"
District Governor Göç stated that the search efforts are ongoing not only on the peninsula but also on all roads parallel to the sea, and mentioned that another dive will be conducted in the Yukarıyapıcı Pond, saying, "Not only here, but all personnel from our gendarmerie, police, other institutions, and intelligence agencies are working on this. It is not just those here. Today, at least 430 personnel are participating here, we are going over places we might have missed, thinking you might not see them. We hope for good news. Today is a bit difficult because the weather is very bad. However, all vehicles and individuals walking along the routes parallel to the sea have checked every single point where vehicles can go down. They are also checking those areas with drones, looking again at places that cannot be reached by sea due to adverse weather conditions. Our police diving team will also conduct 1-2 dives. They will do one last dive, to ensure they check the places they have dived before. They will dive again today. God willing, we will not stop pursuing this matter as a state until we receive a positive outcome."
"OUR WORK WILL NOT END UNTIL WE RECEIVE NEWS"
District Governor Göç, who provided information to the press about the efforts, stated that no trace has been found so far regarding Elif Kumal and the car she allegedly left the camp in, saying: "Since the day the incident occurred, our state has been working on the ground with all its resources to get news about our sister Elif. Today, under the instructions of our Governor at the District Gendarmerie Command, with the leadership of our Deputy Governor, along with our Regiment Commander, representatives of our security units, and representatives from neighboring provinces, we held a meeting with our AFAD President. We reviewed what we have done so far. We also redefined the operational style for what we will do next. Today, we continue search and rescue efforts with over 430 personnel. Additionally, we have reactivated our village heads just like the first day. We are going over every place we searched again, together with volunteers from our villages. Our efforts continue with both underwater search operations and aerial operations. Our drones, helicopter support, and these efforts will continue today as well. We will not stop our work until we receive positive and encouraging news about our daughter Elif."