02.01.2026 12:18
Intensive search efforts are ongoing to find 33-year-old Elif Kumal, who went missing from her camping site in the Erdek district of Balıkesir. Her boyfriend, who was taken into custody, has been released under judicial control.
After leaving the area where she was camping in the Erdek district of Balıkesir, 33-year-old Elif Kumal, who has not been heard from since, her boyfriend who was taken into custody was released under judicial control.
Kumal, who was camping with her boyfriend E.G. in the Yukarıyapıcı Pond area of the Kapıdağ Peninsula on December 27, went missing after leaving the area in her own vehicle following a brief argument. She has been searched for by gendarmerie, fire department, AFAD, and 911 Search and Rescue Association teams for 6 days.
A LARGE NUMBER OF TEAMS CONTINUE SEARCH OPERATIONS
Teams conducting inspections on the mountain paths by vehicle and on foot are also searching chicken farms, warehouses, reed areas, streams, and many other points in the region to reach Kumal. The operations, which also use drones and tracking dogs, are supported by off-road teams familiar with the area.
2 SUSPECTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL
The gendarmerie procedures for Kumal's boyfriend E.G. and a friend whose identity information has not yet been learned, who were taken into custody in connection with the incident, have been completed. After health checks, the two suspects were brought to court and released under judicial control by the judge.
THE GOVERNOR OF BALIKESIR IS ALSO MONITORING THE OPERATIONS ON SITE
Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu also went to the region to get information about the operations. Ustaoğlu told reporters that the teams began search operations as soon as they received the missing person's report. He stated that teams from Çanakkale and İzmir also supported the search efforts, saying: "Our underwater teams conducted a detailed search here in the pond with sonar equipment, but no findings were encountered. Additionally, a UAV operation was already conducted on the first night. No contact was found that night either. Work is also continuing in the field with drones. Unfortunately, there are many excessive 'thorn' paths in the field. Today, a total of 53 vehicles and 190 personnel are in the area with all our teams. Non-governmental organizations are also supporting the operations. Hopefully, we will reunite with this missing citizen as soon as possible."