Turkish authorities detain 33 for fatal electrical shock scandal in İzmir

Turkish police have detained 33 people as part of the investigation into the electrical leakage that caused the deaths of two people during a downpour in the western İzmir province. Six defendants were released upon questioning, while police continued the search for two.

Wednesday July 17 2024 10:28 pm

People paint the rainwater drains red in protest of the infrastructural negligence that has claimed two lives.

Duvar English

Turkish police have detained 33 of the 35 defendants as of July 17 as part of the ongoing investigation into the electrical accident that killed two in the western İzmir province.

Six of the suspects were released after their statements, while police continue their efforts to apprehend two remaining defendants, according to reporting by the Anadolu Agency (AA).

An additional detention period was obtained for the suspects as part of the investigation coordinated by İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor Deputy Necati Kayaközü.

The expert committee, consisting of two civil engineers, including one also serving as an occupational safety expert, one city planner, one electrical engineer, and one electronics engineer, continued their examination.

Meanwhile, protesters painted the street drains at the site of the accident red, drawing attention to the faulty infrastructure the locals have been warning against for years.

Protester Ali Güler Yalvaçlı said, "We want to leave a mark in their memory. We will submit a petition to the municipality with our neighbors here to construct a memorial. We want our friends' memories to remain here, and for such incidents never to happen again."

Additionally, repairs were made to some lighting poles on the street, where there were criticisms about missing covers and exposed cables.

Officials from the contracting company managing the infrastructure project in İzmir argued that there were issues with the city's electrical infrastructure and called for a comprehensive review of all infrastructure.

Alaattin Epözdemir, a member of the High Advisory Board of the Public Contractors Association, stated that the flooding in the Alsancak and Konak districts last November had damaged the infrastructure.

Epözdemir noted that many underground electrical lines in the province were positioned close to the surface, which they observed in their infrastructure projects.

He added, "The situation is the same in our other projects. Complaints about electricity are frequently reported in the media locally. Everyone knows that electrical lines are close to the surface. I believe this issue is prevalent throughout İzmir. I hope this tragic event will prompt action.”

He warned that İzmir's electrical infrastructure needed urgent revision, and urged the grid supplier Gdz Elektrik to join the ongoing rainwater and sewer separation project by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and completely revamp the electrical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, people continued to visit the mourning tent set up in front of the home of victim İnanç Öktemay in the Buca district to express their condolences to the grieving family. Öktemay died while trying to help Özge Ceren Deniz, a university student who was electrocuted during the heavy rain on July 12.