Khaberni - Turkish authorities found the body of a 55-year-old man inside a cave in the village of Dozova in Şırnak province in the southeastern part of the country, after he entered the cave in search of treasure and never came out.
According to media reports, emergency teams received a report of a person lying motionless inside one of the caves in the region, prompting the dispatch of teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), police, fire department, and ambulance services to the site.
Upon the teams' arrival at the cave entrance, a strict security cordon was put in place and measurements of chemical substances and toxic gases were conducted, due to fears of dangerous leaks.
After initial examination, authorities confirmed that the man had died inside the cave, where initial inspections revealed the presence of excavation equipment, including an electric generator, axes, and shovels, which confirmed that the victim had been digging in search of treasure.
The specialist teams also speculated that the man had died several days earlier, due to poisoning from gases emitted from the electric generator inside the cave.
Upon instructions from the Public Prosecutor's Office, forensic teams commenced the examination, fingerprint lifting, and formal identification of the victim.
After the completion of the gas measurements and ensuring the safety of the area, the body was retrieved by the specialist teams and transported to complete the legal and medical procedures.
Investigations are still ongoing to fully uncover the circumstances of the incident, amid renewed warnings of the dangers of random excavation in caves and enclosed spaces without adequate safety equipment.
