Critical question in the methane gas tragedy where 12 soldiers were martyred: 'Why wasn't the dog poisoned?'

In the Operation Claw-Lock region, 12 soldiers were martyred after being affected by methane gas during search operations conducted to find the remains of Martyr Nuri Melih Bozkurt. The Ministry of National Defense, in a statement following the investigation, stated: "It has been determined that there was no disciplinary weakness or lack of control/management, and that some of our personnel who were not on duty at the time, acting with a sense of camaraderie, risked their own lives and entered the cave without waiting for orders, and thanks to their determination to save their comrades, they prevented even more severe consequences."

Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk covered the tragedy in which 12 soldiers were martyred in his column and attempted to clarify the question, "Why wasn't the dog poisoned where 12 soldiers were martyred?" Dursun Akyürek, a Mining Engineer and former Deputy General Manager of the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises (TTK), whom Öztürk consulted, stated: "Carbon monoxide gas, which causes poisoning, is lighter than air. There may not have been gas at the dog's height level. The dog has a sense of smell, but carbon monoxide is an odorless gas. One should not enter confined spaces without a gas detector."

Öztürk included the following statements in his column:

"To find the sacred remains of heroic First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, soldiers wanted to conduct another search based on a tip-off in a cave located under a 952-meter-high hill in northern Iraq, which the terrorist organization had used as a hospital for years. The cave at the top, which could not be found despite being searched many times before, was identified during this search. An iron door was found in that cave. When it could not be opened, it was destroyed with explosives. That was when it all happened...

According to the Ministry of National Defense's statement, a dog was sent inside first. When no signs of poisoning were seen in the dog, the soldiers began to enter. Those who entered could not come back out. It was unclear what to do. Mine workers were brought from Zonguldak to Northern Iraq. They entered with gas masks and special suits. Blood was gushing from the mouths and noses of those who died and those who were rescued. Such an incident had never been encountered before. Doctors and ambulances were brought in. But what was done was done..."

"THERE IS NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF PRECAUTION"

"The fact that the dog came out without being poisoned after being sent inside was interpreted as meaning there was no toxic environment. But the matter is not as the Ministry of National Defense explained. If the dog came out of there without being poisoned by the gas, there is a reason for it. Dursun Akyürek, the former Deputy General Manager of the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises and Mining Engineer I spoke with, explained to us why the soldiers were mistaken as follows:

'The ministry's statement mentions that they entered after nothing happened to the dog in the incident where 12 martyrs were given. Carbon monoxide gas, which causes poisoning, is lighter than air. There may not have been gas at the dog's height level. The dog has a sense of smell, but carbon monoxide is an odorless gas. One should not enter confined spaces without a gas detector. If one is to enter, it should be done with an individual oxygen mask. Therefore, the statements of the Ministry of National Defense are not logical or scientific. There is negligence and lack of precaution. This tragedy is by no means an unforeseeable event.'"

News Source: 12punto