Turkish authorities identity 2nd victim of Batuhan A shipwreck

By Fatih Capkin and Sergen Sezgin

BURSA, Türkiye (AA) - The second body found in the wreckage of a cargo ship in Türkiye’s Sea of Marmara has been identified.

After taking on too much water, the Batuhan A sank on Feb. 15 southwest of Imrali Island.

After a six-day search, the deceased was identified as Huseyin Tutuk, who sent a video to his wife before the ship sank, said Bursa Governor Mahmut Demirtas.

Search operations for the remaining four missing personnel continue at the shipwreck site, located off the coast of Karacabey, Bursa. Four divers from the Turkish Armed Forces Underwater Defense (SAS) commandos are assisting.

- Zeynep Kilinc’s body found on Feb. 17

The cargo ship, carrying a crew of six and 1,250 tons of marble powder, departed Marmara Island on Feb. 14, bound for Roda Port in Bursa, Türkiye.

Due to extreme weather and sea conditions, the 69-meter-long (226-foot) vessel sank off the coast of Karacabey on Feb. 15.

Imaging devices revealed that the ship's wreckage settled at a depth of 51 meters (167.3 feet) on the seabed.

During two dives by Naval Forces Command divers on Feb. 17, the body of 33-year-old Zeynep Kilinc, a cook on the ship, was recovered.