Hello Everyone! 👋 Samet Çelmeli here.
This week was one of those times when even writing the news felt heavy.
Fires, accidents, acts of violence, and negligence... each story was upsetting in its own way. Compiling these reports can sometimes be emotionally draining, but I believe it’s better to stay aware than to turn a blind eye. Hopefully, next week will bring more positive news. Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday. ✌️
📰 General News
🔥 A fire broke out at the 5-star Asrın Beach Hotel in Alanya’s Türkler area, triggering panic and the evacuation of 622 tourists. The blaze started in the basement spa, likely due to an electrical fault, and spread thick smoke throughout the building. Several people suffered from smoke inhalation, with three hospitalized. Ironically, just hours before the incident, officials had issued a sealing notice over the hotel’s unlicensed operations. Firefighting teams from multiple districts managed to bring the fire under control, and the hotel was officially sealed the next morning.
It makes me wonder : how many more hotels are still operating despite being unfit for accommodation?
🐢 In recent days, three turtles have been rescued from garbage containers in Alanya thanks to the sharp eyes and compassion of Alanya Municipality cleaning teams. Incidents in Tepe, Kargıcak, and Mahmutlar neighborhoods shocked locals, as the animals were found alive among trash. All turtles were safely returned to nature.
😢 In Alanya’s Kargıcak neighborhood, a disturbing scene emerged when dead puppies were found dumped in a trash bag in a forested area. The identity of those responsible and the exact timing remain unknown, but the case has sparked outrage among the community, and an official investigation is expected.
🐏 Alanya District Directorate of Agriculture announced that 17,746 animals were sacrificed during Kurban Bayramı, including 769 cattle and 16,977 sheep and goats.
🐄 A shocking scene unfolded off the coast of Konaklı as a dead cow was spotted drifting in the sea. A boat tour passenger alerted authorities, leading to its removal by municipal teams using heavy equipment. The cause remains unclear, and officials have launched an investigation while cleaning up and disinfection to prevent environmental risks.
🧹 During the 5-day Kurban Bayramı holiday, Alanya Municipality cleaning teams collected a total of 4,874.6 tons of waste, including 4,552 tons of household and over 322 tons of packaging waste. Working around the clock, the teams operated not only in the city center but also in rural and highland areas, earning praise for maintaining a clean and healthy environment throughout the celebrations.
🔥 A fire broke out on the Kleopatra Luxury yacht docked at Alanya Harbour. Multiple fire crews responded swiftly, while police secured the area. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, and no injuries have been reported.
🧓 A heartbreaking situation is unfolding in Alanya, where 79-year-old German national Heike Ravon, who suffers from dementia, has been struggling to survive in the garden of Alanya Training and Research Hospital—without an ID, passport, or any form of healthcare coverage. Despite her condition, no support has come from the German Consulate, and she cannot be deported as her tourist visa is still valid and she has not given consent. Locals report that she shows visible signs of distress and is unable to access proper treatment due to a lack of documentation. Citizens are now urging authorities to step in and provide urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to prevent this vulnerable woman from being left to her fate.
🔥 Alanya is facing extreme heat today as temperatures hit 37°C, far above seasonal averages. The real feel is even higher with humidity dropping to 18% and winds reaching 25 km/h. Saturday was milder with partly cloudy skies, but today poses a serious heatstroke risk, especially for the elderly and those with health conditions. Authorities urge caution and hydration.
🚔 Traffic and Public Safety
🥊 A verbal dispute between two foreign nationals and a group of locals in the Çarşı neighborhood -known for its bars and nightclubs- quickly escalated into a street fight. The altercation caused panic in the area until police intervened and restored calm. Authorities are now investigating, but the cause of the conflict remains unclear.
🛵 Tensions escalated in Alanya this week when a motorcycle received a parking ticket, prompting criticism from both riders and residents. Many see the action as part of an excessive effort to boost parking revenues, labeling it unjust and calling for a review of current parking policies throughout the city.
⚠️ Safari tours in Alanya are once again raising concerns as open-top tour buses continue to operate with little regard for traffic rules. Buses block roads and perform dangerous maneuvers, with passengers throwing water between vehicles. The lack of basic safety measures like seatbelts highlights ongoing oversight failures. Traffic units from the Alanya District Gendarmerie Command have issued fines to vehicles found violating regulations, but public calls for stricter controls continue.
⚠️ Warning: You're about to read a lot of traffic accident news!
🖤 Alanya mourns the loss of well-known businessman İlyas Kıldırgıcı, who died in a tragic accident while returning from Gedevet Plateau. His car veered off a curve in Oba’s Değirmendere area and plunged into a ravine. Despite rapid emergency response, Kıldırgıcı was pronounced dead at the scene. His sudden death has deeply saddened both the business community and local residents.
🕯️ A tragic accident on the D-400 highway in Konaklı claimed the life of 41-year-old motorcyclist Gürkan Genç, who collided with a parked car and was then hit by another vehicle. He died at the scene after being thrown onto the road. One driver was detained, and the investigation is ongoing.
😔 Alanya mourns the loss of 24-year-old Sibel Tekin, who passed away after days of critical care following a motorcycle accident at the Metro Junction on the ring road during the Bayram holiday. Her death deeply saddened her family and friends.
🚨 A serious accident occurred in Alanya’s Dere neighborhood when a 23-year-old unlicensed driver lost control and his car plunged into a ravine. The driver was trapped in the vehicle and rescued by fire and gendarmerie teams. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities confirmed he did not hold a valid driver's license.
🚨 Two separate traffic accidents occurred in Alanya. On Kuşyuvası Road, a head-on collision between two cars caused material damage. In Mahmutlar, a motorcyclist was injured after colliding with a light commercial vehicle and was taken to hospital in stable condition. Investigations are ongoing.
🚑 Two young riders were injured in Şekerhane after their motorcycle crashed into a truck on Şevket Tokuş Street. The impact threw both onto the road. Emergency teams responded quickly, and both were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police are investigating the cause.
⚠️ At Kahya Hotel Junction, a motorcycle collided with another vehicle for reasons yet unknown, resulting in three injuries, one of them critical. Emergency services transported all victims to the hospital, and police have launched an investigation.
✈️ Tourism
🚌 A double-decker sightseeing bus service is coming to Alanya as part of a new tourism project by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. Covering Alanya, Serik, Kemer, and Antalya center, the line will be operated under a 10-year lease, with the tender set for June 26, 2025. The route will showcase the region’s natural and historical beauty to both locals and tourists.
🚢 In the first five months of 2025, Alanya Port welcomed 4 cruise ships carrying a total of 3,051 passengers, ranking 13th among 17 Turkish ports. Despite the arrivals, only 2 passengers stayed in Alanya, and 15 boarded from the port. Kuşadası led with 139 cruises, followed by Istanbul with 63 and Izmir with 21.
🛬 Passenger traffic at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport dropped notably in May 2025 compared to the same period last year. According to official data, the total number of passengers fell from 300,180 in 2024 to 274,781 in 2025. Both domestic and international flights saw fewer passengers and fewer scheduled flights, highlighting a downward trend at the regional airport.
🎉 A historic first flight from Uzbekistan landed at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport as an Uzbekistan Airways aircraft arrived from Tashkent with 156 passengers. The inaugural flight was welcomed with a traditional water salute and a special ceremony attended by local officials and tourism representatives. Between June 12 and September 4, a total of 26 flights are scheduled on this route, aiming to bring over 4,300 visitors to the region.
🎭 Art & Entertainments
🎬 Here are the movies you can watch this weekend at Alanyum Shopping Mall:
Click on each title to see the movie details in IMDb
🏆 Sports
🏁 Alanya’s pride, Red Bull athlete Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, will make history in 2026 by becoming the first Turkish rider to compete in MotoGP, joining the Pramac Yamaha team.
That's all for this week. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please subscribe and share it with others. 🙋♂️
🔗 Useful Links
◾ This Week in Alanya - Archive 📚
◾ This Week in Alanya - Facebook Group
◾ Pharmacies on Duty 👩⚕️ (Updates every day)
◾ Antalya Airport ✈ (Arrivals / Departures)
◾ Gazipaşa Airport ✈ (Arrivals / Departures)
◾ Flight Radar ✈ (Displays the plane's live location in real-time.)
◾ Municipal Map 🗺
◾ Official Weather Forecasts ⛅
◾ Pay your Electricity bills online (CK Akdeniz) ⚡
◾ Pay your Water bills online (Asat) 💧
◾ Official Exchange Rates 💱 (You can also find historical exchange rates)
◾ cimri.com & akakce.com 🛒 (Compare and find the cheapest product across various Turkish online shopping sites)
◾ Latest Earthquakes in Turkey 🌍
◾ Documents Required for Short-Term Residence Permit Applications 💳
◾ Market Fiyatı 🛒 (compare the prices of products at supermarkets)
◾ City Cameras 🎥 (Watch Alanya Live through City Cameras)
Indeed lots of bad news, but at least no severely injured people in hotelfire or boatfire, and the poor turtles were saved. So there were a few "lightpoints" after all... Let's hope next week brings us lots and lots of beautiful moments. Looking forward to read about them. Have a nice week and thank you!
Beste Samet ,
Idd heel veel slecht en verdrietig nieuws . Moeilijk voor jou om dit nieuws te moeten brengen aan je trouwe lezers.
Hopende op mooier nieuw komende zondag.
Wens je een fijne en gezonde week voor jou en je familie . Groeten Ellen