Whereabouts of two civilians who disappeared in a “military security zone” near Van's Çatak district 5 days ago, remain unknown.

No news has been received yet from 41-year-old Kadir Karabulut and 21-year-old Ferzende Karabulut who both herd sheep in Beğendik hamlet of Çatak's Sırmalı village 180 km to Van city centre.

The two sheepherders disappeared while looking for their missing sheeps and horses as they grazed them in the mountainous terrain.

Villagers and Çatak Municipality staff are conducting search works to find the sheepherders.

'WE ASKED FOR UAV ASSISTANCE'

Speaking about the incident, Çatak co-mayor Celalettin Bartu said the mentioned area, which has been declared to be a “military zone” recently, is close to Feraşin region where Turkish army operations are going on.

Co-mayor stated that villagers and municipality staff are searching for the missing shepherds through their own means as neither gendarmerie nor AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management) teams have left the village to find the two civilians.

Bartu added that they have asked the gendarmerie to provide UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) reconnaissance, but this demand remains unanswered.