Karaman Futbol Kulübü squad members escaped uninjured on Nov. 15, 2026, when their team bus caught fire on the Karaman-Konya highway while traveling to an away fixture.
- Fixture Rescheduling: The postponed Yeni Mersin İdmanyurdu fixture forces a fixture rescheduling later in the Nesine 3.
The 30-person Karaman FK delegation departed their club facilities in Kazımkarabekir at approximately 08.00 local time, heading toward Silifke for a Nesine 3. Lig Group 3 fixture against Yeni Mersin İdmanyurdu Futbol A.Ş.
Operated by Kazımkarabekir Municipality under driver Memiş B., the 70 BE 008 plated bus encountered mechanical failure roughly one kilometer before reaching Karaman city center on the Karaman-Konya highway, NTV Haber reported.
Players seated toward the rear noticed a burning odor and rising smoke, prompting immediate warnings to the driver, who pulled to the shoulder, Hürriyet reported. Electrical failure disabled the automatic door mechanisms, forcing staff and players to struggle with manual overrides before escaping as flames engulfed the motor compartment.
“Yolculuk sırasında araçtan duman kokusu geldiğini fark etmemiz üzerine şoförü uyardık,” said Özgür Polat, telling Hürriyet that the driver confirmed the engine had stopped and electrical systems had failed.
Polat added, “Şoför de zaten aracın stop ettiğini, elektriğin kesildiğini söyledi. O sırada kapının açılmadığını fark ettik. Kapının açılması için bayağı uğraştık. Kapıyı açtıktan sonra dumanlar yükselmeye, alevler çıkmaya başladı. Otobüsten ayrılarak güvenli bir noktaya geçtik.”
| Incident Detail | Recorded Data |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | 08.00 |
| Traveling Party Size | 30 personnel |
| Vehicle Registration | 70 BE 008 |
| Match Kickoff Time | 13.00 |
Fire and police units rushed to the scene following emergency calls, securing the highway perimeter while firefighters extinguished the blaze. The vehicle’s motor section suffered total destruction, and accompanying sporting equipment burned completely inside the cabin.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) released an official statement confirming the cancellation of the match at Silifke City Stadium, stating that the fixture has been postponed to a later date.
