Natural gas explosion in a 4-story building in Kocaeli: Many injured

An explosion, believed to have been caused by natural gas, occurred at around 19:15 on the 1st floor of a 4-story building on 1524 Street in the Abdi İpekçi neighborhood. Following the explosion, a fire broke out in the building, causing damage to the 1st floor. Upon notification to the 112 Emergency Call Center, numerous fire, medical, gas, and police teams were dispatched to the address. The fire crews arrived at the scene in a short time and brought the fire under control. The injured were taken to the hospital after initial interventions by medical teams. According to initial reports, 13 people were injured.

NATURAL GAS LEAK AND MALFUNCTION REPORTS WERE MADE

Today, at around 15:00, a hole was punctured in a natural gas pipeline passing through the region during excavation work by construction machinery at the Rams Park construction site on Burak Reis Street in the Bayramoğlu neighborhood, and the gas supply to 13 neighborhoods was cut off. Additionally, it was learned that numerous reports of natural gas leaks and malfunctions had been made from many points in the district since the afternoon hours.

In an announcement made on its social media account following the incident in the Bayramoğlu neighborhood, the Darıca Municipality stated, "Due to the explosion of a natural gas line during excavation work at a construction site currently under development, there is a partial natural gas issue in some regions. The matter has been brought under control by the relevant institution PALGAZ and the police, and natural gas will be provided to homes as soon as possible."

On the other hand, on October 22, an explosion also caused by natural gas occurred on the 3rd floor of a 5-story building on 866th Street in the Mevlana neighborhood of the Gebze district, resulting in 2 deaths and 7 injuries. Four days before that explosion, reports of gas leaks and odors had been made from many points in Gebze during the evening hours, and teams had been dispatched to the addresses. Citizens had reacted strongly against the PALGAZ company, owned by PALMET Energy, on the grounds that they did not pay enough attention.

STATEMENT FROM KOCAELİ GOVERNOR AKTAŞ

Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş stated regarding the natural gas explosion in the 4-story building in Darıca, "We have ensured the transfer of 13 of our citizens to the hospital as injured. There are no citizens trapped in the apartments or who have lost their lives. Our fire department and AFAD have intervened and evacuated all apartments."

Governor İlhami Aktaş went to the scene after the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by natural gas on the 1st floor of the 4-story building on 1524 Street in the Abdi İpekçi neighborhood, and received information about the work of the teams. Making statements to journalists after his inspections, Governor Aktaş said, "An explosion occurred in Darıca that we believe was caused by natural gas. So far, we have ensured the transfer of 13 of our citizens from a 4-story apartment building to the hospital as injured. There are no citizens trapped in the apartment or the flats who have lost their lives."

"INITIAL INFORMATION IS THAT THERE ARE NO SERIOUSLY INJURED"

Stating that the fire and AFAD teams have carried out all necessary interventions, Aktaş said, "Our teams have carried out their interventions and evacuated all the flats. Our initial information is that there are no seriously injured. We will go to the hospital now, but the initial information given by our colleagues is that there are no seriously injured. Our colleagues are investigating the matter in every aspect," he said.

Governor Aktaş was accompanied by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın and Darıca Mayor Muzaffer Bıyık.