On August 8, 2024, a family picnic at the Alpaslan-1 Dam in the eastern Turkish province of Muş turned fata. Five family members drowned while attempting to rescue 13-year-old Rabia Karakaya from the dam’s strong currents.
Rabia decided to go for a swim in the Murat River, one of the main tributaries of the Euphrates, as her family relaxed nearby. Not long after entering the water, she began to struggle. Her older siblings, Edanur Karakaya, 20, and Yasin Karakaya, 18, entered the water to help. When their efforts failed, Rabia’s sister-in-law, 22-year-old Fatma Hediye Karakaya, who was eight months pregnant, and 15-year-old relative Eylul Tekin followed in a desperate attempt to save her.
Tragically, all five family members lost their lives in the water. Rescuers responded quickly to the scene, recovering the bodies of Rabia, Edanur, Yasin, and Eylul. The search for Fatma took longer; her body was found later that evening by a diving team just before they were scheduled to suspend the search for the night.
Upon arrival, community head Ali Rza Tekin and others discovered the tragic scene, with the bodies of Rabia and her relatives already recovered. The victims were taken to Muş State Hospital for post-mortem examinations before being returned to their family for burial. Rabia, Edanur, and Yasin were laid to rest beside their mother, who passed away in 2016. Fatma was buried in her village, having been married for only one year.
With its seasonal water fluctuations caused by snowmelt and heavy rains, the Murat River poses significant risks to swimmers, especially in dammed areas like the Alpaslan-1. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has long warned the public of the dangers of swimming in these turbulent waters, highlighting the hidden obstacles and unpredictable currents that can catch even experienced swimmers off guard.
Authorities continue to remind the public to exercise caution when swimming in open waters, especially in dammed rivers, as incidents like this serve as tragic reminders of the potential dangers.