Illegal Treasure Dig Ends in Tragedy: Man Dies in Collapse in Eskişehir

An illegal treasure hunt turned fatal in Turkey's Eskişehir province when a tunnel collapsed, killing one man. The incident occurred in the İnönü district after a group of seven individuals entered the grounds of a house late at night, seeking buried treasure.

As the excavation progressed, 42-year-old Hakan Çilingir, a father of two, entered a 12-meter tunnel that had been dug by the group. He had a rope tied around his waist. While he was inside the tunnel, a landslide occurred in the excavated area, causing the tunnel to collapse and trap Çilingir.

Those accompanying him immediately reported the incident. Emergency services, including AFAD, firefighters, police, and medical teams, launched a rescue operation. After hours of difficult work, rescuers recovered Çilingir's lifeless body. His remains were taken to the hospital morgue for further procedures. Police have detained the six other individuals who were found to be involved in the illegal excavation. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.