22-year-old Dutch tourist goes missing in Turkey’s south

ADANA / MERSİN

A Dutch tourist went missing in the Silifke district of the southern province of Mersin where he was holidaying, Doğan News Agency has reported.

The 22-year-old man identified as Joey Hoffman had come to the country for vacation in early July with two of his friends, travelling around Mersin and the neighboring Adana province with a rented car.

However, Hoffman went missing on July 8.

Friends accompanying Hoffman informed his family in the Netherlands of the situation after they failed to reach him despite all search efforts.

Hoffman’s brother, Robin Hoffman, and two of his friends, Angelo Durei and Jaimy Gewald, also came to Adana.

Hoffman’s brother also printed a missing persons report and distributed them in both provinces, stating that he has not heard from his brother since July 8.

“We first went to the police in the Netherlands and then came to Turkey with two friends of mine and also went to the police here. We could neither get any news from him nor a clue about his whereabouts. We will stay in Turkey until we hear about my brother,” Hoffman said.

Meanwhile, Silifke district governor Şevket Cinbir told state-run Anadolu Agency that officials have been investigating whether Hoffman was in the district but said his travel plan included Silifke.

“It is not certain whether he is here for now but the issue is thoroughly being investigated. If he is here, he will be found as soon as possible,” Cinbir said.

Police efforts to find Hoffman have been ongoing.