Bitter Farewell to Hamza Duras; Missing Student's Body Buried in Safranbolu

Today, the atmosphere in the city of Safranbolu in Karabük province was filled with sorrow. Hamza Duras, a third-year Computer Engineering student at Yeditepe University who had been missing since May 31, 2026, finally reached the final station of his earthly journey after a long and exhausting search operation. His body, which was found in a forested area two days ago, was buried today following legal procedures [1].

The Bitter End of a 35-Day Search The story of Hamza Duras's disappearance began on the last day of May when he left home stating he intended to travel to Istanbul, but he never reached his destination. Following a missing person report by his family, an extensive operation was launched in coordination with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Gendarmerie forces, and volunteer search and rescue teams [2]. Over the past 35 days, search teams used tracking dogs and advanced equipment to examine every inch of the areas around Safranbolu, including difficult-to-access valleys and caves. However, hopes of finding him alive faded day by day [4].

Discovery of the Body in the Depths of Safranbolu Forests Finally, on July 5, a local shepherd grazing his livestock in the forested area between the villages of Sarıçiçek and Aşağıdana noticed a strong odor and encountered the lifeless body of a young man hanging from a tree [3]. Immediately after notifying the 112 emergency center, crime scene investigation teams and the public prosecutor arrived at the scene. Initial examinations confirmed the identity of the deceased; he was indeed Hamza Duras, the missing student. His body was transferred to the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute to determine the exact cause of death and resolve the ambiguities surrounding this tragic incident [1].

Funeral and Burial Ceremony in Emek Neighborhood Today at noon, after the completion of the autopsy procedures, Hamza's body was handed over to his family. The funeral prayer was held at the Sultantepe Mosque located in the Emek neighborhood of Safranbolu. In addition to the grieving family members and relatives, a large number of classmates, professors, and citizens of Karabük attended the ceremony to bid farewell to the young man [2]. After the prayer led by the city Mufti, Hamza Duras was buried in the family cemetery amidst his mother's heartbreaking cries and his friends' tears [3].

Police Investigation Continues Although Hamza's body has been buried, the case regarding his death remains open. Security authorities and the Karabük Prosecutor's Office have launched an extensive investigation to clarify the hidden dimensions of this incident [4]. Surveillance camera footage had shown that Hamza stayed in two different hotels and made a purchase at a store before his final disappearance, but his motive for going to the forested areas and the exact cause of death are still under investigation. The local community hopes that the final results of the autopsy and police investigation will soon reveal the truth behind this painful event [1].