10.11.2026 13:23
Şevval Özçelik, the sister of 25-year-old mechanical engineer Kadir Kaan Özçelik, who lost his life in the explosion that occurred at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in the Aliağa district of Izmir, reacted to the factory authorities. She claimed that her brother had previously been injured in his hands at the workplace, but was threatened and intimidated so that he would not file a complaint. Özçelik said she would hold those responsible accountable.
The wait by relatives of those who lost their lives in the explosion in Aliağa continues in front of the Forensic Medicine Institute. Şevval Özçelik, who is among the waiting families, said that the news of her older brother's death was concealed from them.
“MY BROTHER DIED IN THE MORNING BUT THEY DID NOT TELL US”
Şevval Özçelik, 20, who is among the families waiting in front of the İzmir Forensic Medicine Institute for the completion of autopsy procedures, held company executives and other responsible parties accountable for her older brother's death. Özçelik said, “My mother and father cannot even mourn my brother. Because my older brother was killed yesterday at 12:00 by company executives and other responsible parties. I do not even know yet who is responsible. My older brother died in the morning, but they did not tell us he had died.”
“ARE THESE PEOPLE GARBAGE?”
Özçelik, who recounted that they had received no news from her older brother until the evening hours, reacted to the families being directed to the Forensic Medicine Institute to find their relatives. Özçelik asked, “Are these people garbage?”
“HIS HANDS WERE BURNED AT THIS WORKPLACE BEFORE”
Özçelik, stating that it had been only 3 months since her older brother started working at the factory, recounted that there had been an explosion at the workplace before as well and that her older brother had been injured in his hands at that time.
Özçelik said, “This was the second explosion. One person died in the first explosion, but the incident did not grow. My older brother's hands were also burned at this workplace before. However, the people around him frightened him by saying, ‘If you say it was a work accident, they will fire you; they will give you trouble.’ He went to Menemen State Hospital for a check-up, but he still could not file a complaint. After a week passed, he went back to the workplace to work. They said they would give him trouble and that he would be threatened. They took my older brother's life. I will not let this go. Do not sleep comfortably. I will do everything I can.”
“HE WAS GOING TO BUY ME GIFTS ON MY BIRTHDAY”
Özçelik, recalling that her older brother was single and only 25 years old, recounted that her older brother was going to buy her a gift for her birthday on November 16. Özçelik said, “My birthday was on November 16. He was going to buy me gifts. In the morning, he asked me how he should get his hair cut. He had just had a haircut and was going to show me in the evening. You took this from me. You will answer one by one. I will hold all of them accountable, from the least guilty to the most guilty. You will answer one by one.”
HIS RELATIVES WILL ALSO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE
Kadir Kaan Özçelik's other relatives also stated that they would hold those responsible accountable.