Soldier killed by lightning in Turkey’s southeast laid to rest

ADIYAMAN – Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

A soldier who was killed by lightning on Oct. 22 in the Dağlıca district of southeastern Hakkari province during an operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has been laid to rest in his hometown in southeastern Adıyaman province.

Gendarmerie Specialized Sgt. Kemal Mermer, 21, was laid to rest on Oct. 23 in Adıyaman in a funeral ceremony which saw the attendance of the Adıyaman governor, mayor and garrison commander.

Two other gendarmerie specialized sergeants, Nurullah Yeşildağ, 26, from the Black Sea province of Çorum and Uğur Uğurlu, 28, from the Kırkağaç district of the Aegean province of Manisa, were expected to be laid to rest later.

Three soldiers were killed and twelve were wounded when a lightning strike hit a team of gendarmerie special forces as they were heading toward an operation against PKK militants on Oct. 22, the Turkish General Staff had announced, adding the wounded soldiers were receiving ambulatory treatment at hospital.