Three Lives Lost in Tragedy: Service Carrying Seasonal Agricultural Workers from Şırnak Crashes into Truck in Tarsus!

In a horrific accident in Tarsus, Mersin, a service vehicle carrying agricultural workers crashed into the back of a truck, killing 3 and injuring 16. Emine İrem Oktan (18), Maşallah Oktan (22), and Halil Boztoğan (51) were identified as the deceased, bringing the critical issues of worker safety and seasonal labor transportation back to the forefront.

September 28, 2025 – Tarsus/Mersin – The annual journey of seasonal agricultural workers in Turkey was tragically cut short by yet another road accident. In the Tarsus district of Mersin, a minibus transporting workers who had traveled from Şırnak to work in the regional farmlands crashed, leaving 3 dead and 16 injured. This devastating incident once again highlights the grim reality of negligence and lack of oversight in worker safety and guaranteed transportation across Turkey.

Young Lives Ended Prematurely

The crash occurred in the early hours of the morning in the Damlama locality of the Ankara-Tarsus Highway. The minibus, driven by M.G., collided violently from behind with a truck (driven by B.A.) that was traveling ahead of it.

The force of the impact utterly destroyed the minibus. Emergency services, including 112 Emergency Health, gendarmerie, and fire crews, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Health officials confirmed that three agricultural workers had died instantly.

The names of the deceased, shared by the İSİG Assembly (Occupational Health and Safety Assembly), underscore the scale of the tragedy:

• Emine İrem Oktan (18 years old)

• Maşallah Oktan (22 years old)

• Halil Boztoğan (51 years old)

The bodies of Emine İrem, Maşallah Oktan, and Halil Boztoğan—who were seeking an income—will be sent back to their hometown of Şırnak.

16 Injured Hospitalized

A total of 16 agricultural workers in the minibus were also injured. Following initial treatment at the scene, the injured were transported by ambulance to the Tarsus State Hospital for further medical care. While details on the severity of their injuries were not immediately available, authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident.

Although the exact cause remains under investigation, experts frequently point to long-haul driver fatigue, human error, and the inherent unsafety of vehicles used for seasonal worker transport as major factors in such devastating accidents.

The 'Coffin Carrier' Crisis

Seasonal agricultural workers in Turkey are forced to travel hundreds of kilometers each year to find work. The vehicles used for this mandatory migration are often unregulated and inadequate, frequently leading to fatal accidents. Civil society organizations and unions consistently demand urgent legal regulations to ensure the safe transportation of agricultural workers and to prevent the dangerous practice of using unsafe vehicles dubbed "worker services."

This disaster tragically confirms that safe transportation is not merely a logistical problem but a vital occupational safety issue for agricultural workers, compounding their already vulnerable working conditions.