Investigation reveals $1,000 work would prevent two electric shock deaths in Turkey’s western İzmir

Duvar English

A forensic expert report submitted to the case regarding the electrocution of Özge Ceren Deniz and İnanç Öktemay, found that the accident occurred because a 40,000 Turkish lira-worth maintenance was not carried out, according to a report by online news outlet T24.

Deniz and Öktemay were electrocuted in July after stepping into a water puddle during heavy rain in western İzmir's Alsancak district. The investigation found that the cables should have been buried at a depth of 80 cm, with special protective measures reducing this to 20 cm in exceptional cases. 

The energy cable was located just below a drain grate, with a white drainage pipe raising the cables toward the grate. The protective casing had been removed, and the cable's depth was reduced to around 15 cm. The insufficient depth and lack of protection allowed the grate to crush the cable, damaging its insulation, which led to the fatal electric shock.

The report stated that burying the cables at the proper depth would have cost approximately 40,000 liras. The report also noted that it was impossible to determine whether the energy cables running from the transformer to the distribution panels posed a risk without excavating them.

A total of 42 individuals including the local electricity distribution company Gediz Elektrik CEO Uğur Yüksel and the İzmir Water Works İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan are being prosecuted in the case. The lawyers representing the victims’ families requested an expert report to identify those responsible and examine the oversight failures.