10.11.2025 20:26
Ayten Aras, a worker who survived the fire at the perfume filling facility in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, recounted the terrifying moments she experienced. Aras expressed the magnitude of the incident with her words: "No one could see anyone through the flames; I threw myself outside and tore my clothes off."
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Ayten Aras, one of the injured workers at the perfume filling facility in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, recounted the horrifying moments of the incident. Aras stated that the shift supervisor, who was holding a machine used in the facility during the fire, was caught in the flames, saying, "No one could see anyone through the fire. The door was open, and I threw myself outside. I thought, 'I should throw myself outside so that the neighbors can put out my clothes.' I looked around, and no one was there. I tore off my clothes by myself and threw them away. My body got a bit burned; my legs, face, and hands were burned," she said.
A fire broke out at the facility located in the Mimar Sinan neighborhood around 09:00 on Saturday morning for an undetermined reason. Upon notification, a large number of fire, health, and police teams were dispatched to the scene. In the fire, which was brought under control after intense intervention by the teams, 6 people lost their lives, and 7 others, one of whom was seriously injured, were also hurt.
"NO ONE COULD SEE ANYONE THROUGH THE FIRE" Ayten Aras, one of the workers who survived the disaster, shared her terrifying moments with İHA. On the day of the incident, she stated that 5 people were working side by side, saying, "There were 2 girls and 3 women working at the same table. Esma (who lost her life) and another girl were behind us. Mr. Tuncay (the shift supervisor) was preparing the product. He pulled the product and brought it to the machine. Suddenly, I heard a 'boom' sound. He was pulling the cologne perfume machine to take it away. It exploded in his hand. The fire completely engulfed him. No one could see anyone through the fire. I managed to escape in the meantime. The door was open, there was distance. I threw myself outside. I thought, 'I should throw myself outside so that the neighbors can put out my clothes.' I looked around, and no one was there. I tore off my clothes by myself and threw them away. My body got a bit burned; my legs, face, and hands were burned. It wasn't that serious for me," she said.
"GOD SPARED ME FOR MY CHILDREN" Aras, who explained that she survived but her colleagues were left inside, continued: "If they had followed me, they might have burned, but they could have escaped somehow. It exploded suddenly. 5 people were already at the entrance of the door. They saved themselves. I ran after them. Our other friends might have been shocked by that moment and gone to the back. Tuba, Nisa, Şengül, Hasbike, and I were three side by side. God saved us; He spared me for my children."
"THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE FOOD, AND THERE WAS NO INSURANCE" Aras also touched on the difficulties experienced at the workplace, stating, "There were no social rights. They only made us work. They didn't provide food, we had no place to sit, and there was no insurance. There were no social rights; they didn't provide any. They paid me 800 lira a day. I had been working here for more than 4 years," she said.
"NO ONE WORKS FOR FUN" After her treatment, Ayten Aras stated that she filed a complaint and explained the problems and negligence at the workplace to the authorities, saying, "We are plaintiffs. So many lives were lost. We tried, but they didn't give us our rights. No one works for fun. We were working for our children. Esma had left the job, but they called her back. She had no financial means; she was a tenant. Everyone is standing for their children," she said.
"THE BOSS CAME ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, SAW IT, AND LEFT" Aras emphasized that the owner of the workplace came to the facility every day, saying, "He used to come at 09:00 on Saturdays. On the day of the incident, he came, saw it, and left. He always came at 09:00 when something happened to us. He was with us day and night. His son didn't come. His son would occasionally come to his father's side," she stated.
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