Two days ago, Nur Sena Kurt, a 9-year-old girl drowned in water canal that goes through Kandahar neighborhood in Van, Muradiye district. Neighborhood residents wanted the authorities to take security precautions immediately after the death of a 9-years-old girl.
The little girl playing on the edge of the canal passing through the neighborhood, overbalanced and dropped into the canal. The search for the children started around the evening after the family noticed that their girl is missing. As the result of the search, the little girl was found in the canal about 300 meters away from her home. Nur Sena was then taken to Muradiye State Hospital and lost her life here despite all the interventions.
The moment of drowning reflected in a house security camera
On the other hand, the moment of the little girl falls into the water, reflected in the security cameras of the house. Nur Sena, who plays on the side of the water channel where no security precautions are taken, appears to have lost her balance and dropped into the water.
The tiny child who was struggling against the stream of water, falls down here in the current and can be stopped 300 meters away.
Speaking to ILKHA, neighborhood residents stated that 5 other children also drowned before in the canal due to precautions haven’t been taken, demanded from authorities to take precautions against drowning.
“We lost 5 of our children”
Mehmet Bozkurt, one of the residents of the neighborhood who said that the channel is a danger for them because of not taking any measures against the falls, said, “The irrigation channel belonging to the State Water Works is very risky for us. We've lost as many as 5 kids now. We have repeatedly give our wishes to Muradiye governorship. This channel was built in 1965. However, this area was not a residential area. Right now this channel is dangerous for us. When a child goes out we become uneasy. That's why we ask the state to take measures around this channel.”
“This canal gives us fear”
Ömer Kurt, the uncle of the child who lost her life in the canal in the Kandahar neighborhood, also worries that while their children go out of the house and that they live with that fear every day, saying, “Even it is very difficult for an adult person save his/her life if fall in this canal. So far, 5 children have fallen into this channel and died. There is a fear in our hearts every day because of this canal. We run to the canal every time if our children are not around. This canal has been giving us fear for many years.”
"We terrified as the moment our child disappeared in front of our eyes”
Ibrahim Barış, whose sister also drowned in the same canal said, “A child fell here and drowned. This is very risky. We are terrified at the moment our children disappear in front of our eyes. We want our government to help us. They should close the canal or cover it with wire cloth so that we and our children are going to feel safe. This canal is always in front of our eyes like an enemy.”
ILKHA