06.09.2026 14:10
3 people lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the sauna section of a gym in Batman, and 2 business officials were arrested. Bar Association President Abdulhamit Çakan stated that the fire originated from the electrical panel and that the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, adding that the investigation is ongoing in all aspects and that there is a chain of negligence.
Abdulhamit Çakan, President of the Batman Bar Association, stated that the investigation into the fire that broke out in a sports hall on August 30, killing 3 people and leading to the arrest of 2 business officials, is ongoing, saying, "According to the information we have obtained, it is a fire that started from the electrical panel. The fire initially starts around the sauna, then spreads to other places. Our 3 citizens also passed away due to smoke inhalation."
A fire broke out in the sauna section of the sports hall in Gültepe Neighborhood on the evening of August 30. Fire brigades, AFAD, UMKE, and police teams were dispatched to the address following the notification. A total of 12 people affected by the fire, 3 of them seriously injured, were taken to the hospital after the fire was brought under control. Among the injured, Şanzime Sarıgül (44), Emine Yani (42), and lawyer Gülsüm Öztekin Tunç (43), a mother of two, lost their lives. It was learned that Sarıgül and Yani were working at the Children's Homes Site affiliated with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services. The bodies were handed over to their relatives and buried after autopsy procedures.
Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 2 business officials and 3 employees were detained. After their procedures at the police station, the 2 business officials who were referred to the courthouse were arrested, while 3 employees, one of them under judicial control, were released.
MINISTER ŞİMŞEK ATTENDED THE FUNERAL
It was learned that Emine Yani, one of those who lost their lives in the fire, was the daughter of Ahmet Şimşek, the older brother of Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek. Minister Şimşek came to the city on September 1 and attended the condolence ceremony at Necat Nasıroğlu Complex. Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, who came to the city on the same day for various programs, also visited the family to offer condolences along with Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp and AK Party Provincial Chairman Hüseyin Şansi.
Abdulhamit Çakan, President of the Batman Bar Association, stated that the investigation continues in all aspects, saying, "A fire broke out in a sports center with a sauna, Turkish bath, and pool in our province of Batman. Following the fire, we lost 3 citizens. One of them was a colleague we loved very much. We lost our colleague, who was still very young and had 2 children, in the incident. There were also those injured. There were also those who were evacuated. Subsequently, an investigation was initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the sports hall. As a result of this investigation, 2 people deemed to have been negligent were arrested and sent to prison. The investigation regarding this incident continues in all aspects. We are constantly in contact with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on this matter. We are closely following the process and the investigation."
'THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE SAUNA SECTION'
Stating that the fire started from the electrical panel near the sauna of the sports hall, Çakan said, "We are aware that there is a chain of negligence. However, reports regarding this usually emerge towards the end of the investigation. What negligence is there in the incident? What kind of negligence? Whose negligence is it? It will become clear in all aspects. However, the information we have obtained at this very moment is that yes, there is a chain of negligence in the incident. But the extent of it will become clear at the end of the investigation. As the Batman Bar Association, together with the Batman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, we will follow the incident to the end. According to the information we have obtained, it is a fire that started from the electrical panel; it first starts around the sauna. Then it spreads to other places. Again, according to the information we have obtained from the investigation file; all 3 of our deceased citizens passed away due to smoke inhalation. There is no death or serious injury caused by burning or burns in the incident," he said.