Soldier killed in boat explosion off southern Turkey

HATAY

DHA photo

One soldier was killed in an explosion that occurred on a boat off the Çevlik coast of the southern province of Hatay early on May 22. 

The explosion, which injured two others including another soldier, occurred as Coastal Guard teams were approaching a boat suspected of carrying dead bodies, according to a fisherman vessel’s call. 

The explosion, which was audible from the Samandağ district of Hatay, caused panic among residents in the town.

The two injured in the blast were taken to a nearby hospital, and Samandağ District Gov. Cahit Çelik said investigations into the incident were ongoing.

Meanwhile, one soldier was killed on May 21 in a clash with outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the Şemdinli district of the eastern province of Hakkari, the military said. Cuma Akalın was killed during clashes at the base area around the Mirgesav Mountain at 3:05 p.m., sources said.

As the Turkish Armed Forces continue counter-terror operations in the southeast and the eastern regions of the country, the Diyarbakır Governor’s Office issued a statement saying a curfew on 14 streets of three neighborhoods in the Sur district was being lifted as of 8 a.m. on May 22. The statement issued on May 21 said curfews were to be lifted as security forces’ operations are concluded in affected areas. 

In rural parts of the Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır, meanwhile, security forces carried out an operation on May 20 targeting a tractor after it was found to contain explosives planted by PKK militants. 

While seizing the tractor, security forces clashed with the PKK, killing a militant. The demolition of the explosives created a crater that was two meters deep and five meters wide.

In a similar incident, a total of 16 civilians were killed in another incident when a bomb-laden truck belonging to PKK militants was detonated in the Sur district of Diyarbakır. The explosion, which injured 23 people, also created a huge pit in the area, in which the body parts of 13 victims were found in the following days.