Dicle Elektrik issues statement on Diyarbakır-Mardin fire

Dicle Elektrik has made statements regarding the fire that broke out in the provinces of Diyarbakır and Mardin on June 20, 2024. Stating that the fire did not originate from power lines, Dicle Elektrik shared information that the fire was caused by stubble burning, based on detailed examinations and evidence obtained.

Dicle Elektrik Chairman of the Board Memet Atalay stated in his remarks on the subject that they have verified the cause of the fire with satellite and various camera recordings. Noting that in their initial work with field teams following the fire that occurred on June 20, they determined that the fire was not caused by power lines, Atalay said, “We continue to respond to the allegations that have reached the press, the public, and the prosecutor's office regarding the fire. I would like to state once again that we do not have an electrical line in the cemetery area of Köksalan Neighborhood where the fire started.”

“In the examinations we conducted around 10:00 on the day immediately following the fire throughout the Köksalan Neighborhood, in areas where both the village's internal low-voltage network and the medium-voltage network are located, we did not encounter any conductor breakage, pole collapse, or low-voltage failure. We have confirmed these findings with our latest detailed assessments and examinations, as well as through satellite imagery and various camera recordings,” he said.

Stating that the fire originated from stubble burning carried out on two different private properties, Atalay said, “Although it has been claimed in some media outlets and social media channels that the fire was caused by electricity, we state again with evidence that it did not originate from power lines. As can be seen in the images we received from the Sentinel 2 satellite on June 17, 2024, and June 20, 2024, it is evident that the fire was caused by stubble burning. Humidity and heat indicators also clearly show that the stubble burning was done in a planned manner by surrounding the plots hours before the fire. It has been determined that the land belongs to the family of a so-called eyewitness who claimed there was no stubble burning and, by contradicting the Governor's Office statement, asserted that the fire was caused by the ignition of electrical wires. We have also determined that the other land where the fire occurred is an area belonging to the family of another witness,” he said.

VISUAL EVIDENCE SUBMITTED TO JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES

Noting that the camera footage circulated by some media outlets regarding the fire also belongs to June 23, 2024, and daytime hours, Atalay said, “While the fire, which resulted in the death of 15 of our citizens and the injury of dozens of our people, started in the evening hours of June 20, 2024, the camera recording in question, which is circulating in the media and social media channels, belongs to June 23, 2024, and shows daytime hours. In this fire video, which occurred in an orchard in the Derik district of Mardin on the morning of Monday, June 24, and was claimed to be caused by power lines, it is clearly seen in the camera footage that the recording date is ‘2024.06.23’,” he said.

“We once again wish God's mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives in the fire and a speedy recovery to our injured,” said Atalay, adding, “We continue to share all footage and evidence regarding the matter with public institutions and relevant authorities. It is established by documents and footage that the fire was not caused by electricity. However, we kindly ask our citizens to wait with patience and calm for the results of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.”

"SOMETIMES TURNING INTO PHYSICAL ATTACKS..."

In the statement, it was noted that despite more than 1 billion dollars of network investment, Dicle Elektrik field employees continue to be the focus of physical and verbal violence, especially in rural and agricultural irrigation areas.

In the statement, which emphasized that the company, whose employees are beaten and vehicles are damaged in incidents that sometimes turn into physical attacks, is determined not to give up on its investments, it was stated that the company, which has reduced the loss-leakage rate from 76 percent to 43 percent with its 10-year technology-focused investments and effective field work, also makes a great contribution to the country's economy.

In the statement, it was recorded that a distribution company that has brought approximately 9 billion kWh of energy under registration annually in 10 years despite all obstacles in the loss-leakage rate has contributed 165 billion TL to the country's economy in the first 10 years of privatization.