04.04.2025 07:41
In the Yahşihan district of Kırıkkale, 23 small livestock animals died due to a strong odor emanating from a culvert, while 77 animals were rescued at the last moment. Investigations have been initiated regarding the incident.
```html
In the Yahşihan district of Kırıkkale, a sharp smell emanating from the culvert's stream poisoned the small livestock, resulting in the death of 23 animals. Thanks to the rapid intervention of the teams, 77 animals were saved at the last moment. The incident occurred at the culvert located at the 16th kilometer of the Ankara-Kırıkkale highway. Sakin Ulusoy (49), a father of two who engages in livestock farming in the village of Hacıbalı in the Yahşihan district, encountered a strong odor while passing through the culvert after grazing his 100 small livestock, as he does every day. The sharp smell from the wastewater flowing from the stream affected the animals.
POISONING ALLEGATION
While 23 of the animals allegedly poisoned died at the scene, 76 were saved thanks to the timely intervention of villagers and firefighting teams. One animal, thought to be dead, was also rescued from the culvert by the teams. AFAD, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change began an investigation in the area upon the instruction of Kırıkkale Governor Mehmet Makas. Expert teams took samples from the water flowing from the culvert and started an examination of the deceased animals. Uğur Atar, the Director of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, stated to the citizens present at the scene that the cause of the animals' deaths would be clarified after laboratory analyses were conducted. "There was an awful smell," said Sakin Ulusoy, the livestock farmer who expressed that his animals died due to the smell emanating from the stream. "I was following the animals, and there was an awful smell. The animals were affected. I wanted to rescue the animals, but I realized I would get poisoned. We had to leave them, and I called the village head. The commanders came, thank God, they helped too. Later, the firefighting teams arrived and entered with gas masks. Normally, it is not allowed to enter. Our esteemed governor also sent all the teams. He helped. May God bless his work," he said.
"I WANTED TO SAVE THE ANIMALS BUT WE COULDN'T INTERVENE"
The village head of Hacıbalı, İbrahim Sağkol, stated that the incident occurred in the evening hours, saying, "Today in the evening, our villager Sakin Ulusoy called me. He said, 'Muhtar, hurry, my animals are dying.' When we arrived at the scene, we noticed that the animals had entered under the culvert and there was a strong smell. He had also stayed a bit inside and was in a semi-unconscious state. I wanted to intervene to save the animals, but we couldn't enter. Later, we informed the gendarmerie teams. Thank God, they intervened. The firefighting teams rescued the animals that were left inside. I especially want to thank our esteemed governor. At this hour of the night, he directed all the teams, thank you," he said. Farmer Dursun Doğan, one of the villagers, stated, "When we called, our gendarmerie teams came and did what was necessary. The firefighters came and rescued some with masks. Everyone came; otherwise, we couldn't enter because of the smell. The shepherd was fainting; we were almost calling an ambulance, but he regained consciousness when he got to fresh air," he expressed.
```