24.07.2025 08:01
Sad news has emerged from the ongoing forest fire extinguishing efforts in Eskişehir. Five forest workers and five AKUT volunteers trapped in the flames have been martyred. While one of the eight injured workers is still receiving treatment in intensive care, the names of the ten individuals who lost their lives have been revealed.
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The identities of the forest workers and AKUT volunteers who became martyrs while intervening in the forest fire in the Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir have been revealed.
In the fire, Sercan Utmi, Hilmi Şahin, Eyip Dereli, Tolunay Kocaman, Enes Kızılyel, Muharrem Can, İlker Onarıcı, Tekin Enes Sarıyıldız, Bayram Eren Arslan, and Alperen Özcan became martyrs.
5 MARTYRS ARE FOREST WORKERS, 5 ARE AKUT PERSONNEL Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated in a statement made at the Fire Management Center in Ankara that 10 people, including 5 forest workers and 5 AKUT personnel, became martyrs while intervening in the forest fire in Eskişehir Seyitgazi.
Yumaklı emphasized that there was no problem with 4 of the mentioned fires, and used the following expressions:
"However, regarding the fire that started in Eskişehir-Seyitgazi and crossed into Afyonkarahisar borders, unfortunately, 19 forest workers, 5 AKUT members, and 24 people were caught in the fire as the suddenly changing wind turned the flames towards them. Currently, 14 of these friends are being treated in different hospitals without major problems. Unfortunately, we lost 5 forest worker brothers and 5 AKUT member brothers. I extend my condolences to all the brothers who lost their lives, their families, and their loved ones. May our nation's head be healthy. I also wish urgent healing to my injured brothers from God."
Martyrs of AKUT Volunteers MINISTER YUMAKLI: THEY WERE CAUGHT IN THE FIRE DUE TO THE CHANGING WIND Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said, "11 major fires broke out in our country, and we fought against the fires by combating extraordinary heat and changing winds. There is no problem with 4 of these fires. However, regarding the fire that started in Eskişehir Seyitgazi and crossed into Afyon, 24 people, including 19 forest workers and 5 AKUT members, were caught in the fire as the suddenly changing wind turned the flames towards them. Currently, 14 of our friends are being treated in different hospitals without major problems. Unfortunately, we lost 5 forest worker brothers and 5 AKUT worker brothers. We are fighting against 7 fires, including 2 in Sakarya, 2 in Karabük, 1 in Manisa, 1 in Eskişehir, and 1 that started in Sakarya and reached the Bilecik border. Extraordinary heat and weather changes await us starting tomorrow. 86 million citizens need to be extra careful. I can't find any other words to say, we have been talking about this since June 1, very high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity have turned a simple forest fire into something else. We lost 10 brothers like saplings, may our nation's head be healthy," he said.
AKUT'S STATEMENT FOR THE MARTYRS In a written statement from the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT), it was stated, "As the Search and Rescue Association, we are deeply saddened. We regret to inform that we lost five of our volunteers on duty during our intervention efforts in the forest fire that occurred in the Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir. Our volunteers who lost their lives, Alperen Özcan, Tekin Enes Sarıyıldız, İlker Onarıcı, Muharrem Can, and Bayram Eren Arslan, were selflessly fighting under difficult conditions to protect our country's forests and human lives. Each of them embodied the spirit of volunteering of AKUT, living with infinite respect and responsibility for human life. Our loss is great, our pain is indescribable. We wish God's mercy upon our AKUT volunteers and the forest workers who lost their lives, and we extend our condolences to their families and loved ones. May the head of our entire country be healthy," it was stated.
THE BODIES ARE IN ANKARA FOR DNA ANALYSIS The bodies of the forest martyrs were brought to Ankara by funeral vehicles belonging to the Afyonkarahisar Municipality after the procedures at Afyonkarahisar State Hospital. Many relatives of the martyrs and AKUT officials waiting in front of the Ankara Forensic Medicine Group Presidency were in tears. The martyrs' bodies will be delivered to their families after identification and DNA analysis.
MINISTER MEMİŞOĞLU VISITED THE INJURED Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated regarding those injured during the intervention in the forest fire in the Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir that the general condition of the 5 injured being treated at Afyonkarahisar State Hospital is good and they will be discharged tomorrow.
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