Body of 10-year-old raises death toll at southeastern reservoir to six amid claims of negligence

The body of a missing 10-year-old girl was found on Aug. 26 at the Alkumru reservoir, ending two days of search and rescue efforts in the area after the dam’s gates opened to allow a large flood of water, dragging in several people who were having a picnic nearby.

With the death of Semanur Parlaküşer, the number of victims has risen to six, which includes her two sisters Şeval, 6, and Betül, 8,  as well as her father Osman, 34, who had jumped into the water to save his children.

Meanwhile, five employees from the company operating the Alkumru and Kırazlı dam, both on the Botan River, were interrogated and released under probationary conditions amid claims of negligence.

Siirt Bar Association has filed a complaint to sue Limak Holding on charges of reckless homicide. The victims were all dragged into the waters released by the dam to fill the reservoir in the afternoon hours of Aug. 24. The company, however, claimed the operation was done upon the instructions of TEİAŞ, the state company in charge of energy distribution, adding the zone was a restricted area and sirens rang before the dam’s gates were opened.

Forestry Minister Veysel Eroğlu regretted that people “would not take into account warnings” made by officials. “According to what they told me, warnings sounded 15 minutes before [the gates were opened]. Some of the people [at the reservoir] went out, but others stayed. Maybe they thought nothing would happen to them,” said Eroğlu. Both the Siirt Prosecution Office and the Energy Ministry have launched investigations into the accident.

But lawyers from Siirt Bar Association claimed in its complaint that the siren system was not properly activated. They also...