16.02.2026 19:11
In the Menderes district of Izmir, the statements of two suspects, one of whom is in custody, have emerged regarding the deaths of 16-year-old Balımnaz Türkkal and her sister Nergiz Türkkal in a car swept away by floodwaters. One of the suspects, Tamer Demirdaş, stated that they managed to escape through the window when the vehicle was caught in the flood, saying, "However, Balımnaz and Nergis could not jump out of the car," while the driver Demirdaş expressed, "At that moment, I was so focused on saving myself that I didn't understand what was happening."
In the Menderes district of İzmir, siblings Balımnaz (16) and Nergiz Türkkal (21) lost their lives in a car swept away by floodwaters. The suspects in the vehicle provided statements regarding the situation. The driver, Demirdaş, who was arrested after the incident, explained how they lost control.
SISTERS DIED IN A CAR SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODWATERS On the evening of February 5, the car containing Balımnaz Türkkal, her sister Nergiz Türkkal, Devran Y., and Tamer Demirdaş was swept away by floodwaters while crossing a bridge over a stream on Kısık Sanayi road in Oğlananası neighborhood of Menderes district. Devran Y. and driver Tamer Demirdaş managed to escape from the vehicle on their own.
Upon notification, İzmir Gendarmerie Command Underwater Search and Rescue Team and AFAD teams were dispatched to the area. Devran Y. was detained, while Demirdaş fled. In the search and rescue operations, which also utilized trained dogs, the lifeless bodies of Balımnaz and her sister Nergiz Türkkal were found. The Türkkal sisters were buried in Hacılarkırı Cemetery. Gendarmerie teams captured Tamer Demirdaş, who was determined to have been driving the car swept away by the flood and had a warrant for arrest due to charges of 'Drug manufacturing and trafficking' and 'Theft'. After his procedures at the gendarmerie, Demirdaş was arrested by the court to which he was referred.
"IT WAS DAWN WHEN I FOUND THE WAY" The statements of Devran Y. and Tamer Demirdaş have emerged. Suspect Devran Y. said, "We picked up Balımnaz and Nergiz from the Konak Tepecik area. We drove around the Konak İnciraltı area with the car. Then we came to the Sarnıç region Life Picnic Area with the same vehicle. We had fun among ourselves here. Around 10:00 PM, we were heading from Gaziemir towards Torbalı. Tamer was driving again. Nergis was sitting in the front right seat, I was sitting in the left back seat. Balımnaz was sitting next to me. Our speed on the Menderes Torbalı road was 20-30 kilometers. The rain was very heavy and there was a current. Then we entered a side street where there were fields. Suddenly, we were caught in the current here. We opened the left front and left rear windows of the vehicle. Tamer and I jumped out of the window when the vehicle was swept away. However, Balımnaz and Nergiz could not jump out of the vehicle. I don't remember when I got out of the current. I didn't even know where I was when I found the way out. It was dawn when I found the way. Then I went to Tamer's house. His family said he was not home and had not come. Upon this, I immediately went to the Ayrancılar Gendarmerie Station and explained the incident," he said.
"I THOUGHT I COULD PASS WITH THE CAR" Tamer Demirdaş stated, "Since there was a prior arrest warrant against me, I avoid the roads that have checkpoints. I had been using this road regularly. When we arrived at the scene, it was drizzling. There was a bit of water accumulation on the road, but I thought I could pass with the car. My speed was about 10-20 kilometers. I drove the vehicle towards the water accumulation. Just as I was on the water accumulation, the front right part of the vehicle started to sink. The vehicle veered to the right. When I realized the vehicle was caught in the current, I jumped out through the window of the left front passenger seat. Devran also got out of the vehicle. As I started to be swept away, I held onto him and saved myself. I thought the women in the vehicle also escaped and saved themselves. At that moment, I was so focused on saving myself that I didn't understand what was happening. Later, I went to my friend's house and took refuge there. About 5-6 hours after the incident, my friend informed my niece. He came to pick us up. I was the one who ensured that the gendarmerie was notified. I also asked Devran to report to the authorities myself. Since I had an arrest warrant, I couldn't report to the authorities myself," he said.