Perfume warehouse disaster in Kocaeli's Dilovası was an accident waiting to happen: 'Illegal structure, child laborers...!'
Witnesses to the perfume warehouse fire in Dilovası, Kocaeli, where 6 workers lost their lives, stated that despite repeated complaints about the illegal structure, no action was taken, child laborers were employed, and the workplace was unlicensed.
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Following the perfume warehouse fire in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, which claimed the lives of 6 workers, witnesses stated that the incident was predictable. The fact that the warehouse was not demolished after the fire broke out and that unlicensed operations continued has brought the negligence of the authorities to the agenda.
"I FILED COMPLAINTS REPEATEDLY"
Citizens claimed that despite filing numerous complaints regarding the perfume warehouse in question, authorities failed to take action. Describing the moment of the fire, one witness said, "A woman said there were 4-5 child laborers inside. I extinguished one worker myself, then the fire department arrived." Furthermore, allegations were raised that the warehouse was an illegal structure and lacked a license.
Local residents made striking statements regarding the decisions made by the former mayor concerning illegal structures and the involvement of municipal police. A witness, noting that the building was still standing despite a demolition order issued following complaints, said, "The mayor had said, 'I would have to demolish all the structures in Dilovası to demolish this one.' Because the owner of this place was a relative of the mayor."
"I HEARD THE CHILDREN'S SCREAMS"
Immediately after the fire, another witness pointed to a major case of negligence, stating that there were child laborers inside and that they heard their screams. "Student children were being employed here for 200 TL a day. The managers of this business bear the responsibility for this incident," they stated. It was also noted that the warehouse contained chemical products, but the location was not a commercial zone and such production should only be carried out in organized industrial zones.
ALLEGATIONS OF AUTHORITIES TURNING A BLIND EYE
Statements made regarding the incident emphasized the negligence of the former mayor and the municipal police. The witness questioned the responsibility of the authorities in the incident, saying, "Hamza Şayir gave permission to these facilities. He showed favoritism to his own fellow townsmen."