20.08.2026 08:01
A request for assistance was made due to suspected poisoning on the Marshall Islands-flagged ship Valianta, located 9 nautical miles off the coast of Zeytinburnu. Health, AFAD, and UMKE teams were dispatched to the scene. Four people, 3 Chinese and 1 Myanmar citizen, were transferred by Coast Guard boat to health teams in Ataköy and taken to the hospital. The governorship stated that the personnel were not in life-threatening condition.
It was reported that a distress call was made from the ship named Valianta, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, located 9 nautical miles off the coast of the Zeytinburnu district, due to suspected poisoning. Upon this, teams took action, picked up 4 people, and handed them over to health teams in Ataköy.
STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNORSHIP
In the statement made by the Istanbul Governorship regarding the incident, it was stated: "On Wednesday, 19.08.2026, around 17:00, a distress call was made from the ship named Valianta, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, located 9 nautical miles off the coast of the Zeytinburnu district, due to suspected poisoning. Health, AFAD KRBN, and UMKE teams were dispatched to the scene. Four individuals affected by the incident, 3 citizens of the People's Republic of China and 1 citizen of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, were brought ashore at Ataköy by a Coast Guard boat and handed over to health teams. The affected ship personnel were taken to the hospital under suspicion of poisoning and placed under treatment. The personnel are not in life-threatening condition."