13.02.2025 12:00
Images have emerged showing the moment a fire broke out at a furniture factory in Kayseri, resulting in the deaths of three people. The footage reveals that flames began to rise while the workers were still working, and some workers, who noticed the fire late, continued their tasks before quickly running outside. The video then goes dark after the flames completely engulfed the factory.
A fire broke out at a furniture factory on 29th Avenue in Kayseri Organized Industrial Zone on November 30th last year around 2:00 PM. The flames quickly spread, engulfing a part of the factory. Upon notification from the surrounding area, police, medical, and fire teams were dispatched to the scene. The fire was extinguished after three hours of work by the teams. In the fire, workers Mustafa Dirmen (54), Suzan Çakır (48), and İmran Oğuz Kayan (40) lost their lives.
7 PEOPLE DETAINED
As part of the investigation conducted by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 7 people were detained, including the factory's general manager, the occupational safety officer, and those responsible for the area where the fire broke out. One of the suspects, Serkan T., was arrested, while the others were released under judicial control. In the review of Serkan T.'s detention last month, it was decided to apply house arrest as a precautionary measure for his release.
"THE FIRE DID NOT START IN THE SECTION WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE"
In his statement during the investigation, factory manager Serkan T. stated that he was responsible for the control and supervision of the workplace, saying, "The individuals who lost their lives as a result of the incident, Suzan Çakır, İmran Oğuz Kayan, and Mustafa Dirmen, were working in the cushion section of the warehouse. The fire broke out at one end of the warehouse. However, the fire did not start in the section where the victims were. There was a distance of about 50-60 meters. As the fire grew, everyone started to run. We could not count those who went outside due to the incident all at once. I tried to call out to everyone and help. Although we later learned that these 3 individuals remained in the relevant section, we could not intervene due to the fire's growth. We notified the fire department. I am sorry for what happened. We have both material and moral losses. I do not accept the accusations," he stated.
UP TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT
The investigation conducted by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been completed, and an indictment has been prepared. In the indictment sent to the Kayseri Heavy Penal Court, it was requested that the defendants Serdar T., Serkan T., İsmail D., Erol T., Esra A., Hamza K., and Mohamad Al A. be sentenced to imprisonment of 2 to 15 years for the crime of 'causing death or injury by negligence.' After the court accepts the indictment, the defendants will appear before the judge in the coming days.
FOOTAGE EMERGED
Meanwhile, footage from the factory's security camera showing the moments when the fire broke out has emerged. In the images obtained by DHA, it can be seen that flames began to rise while the workers were working, and some workers who did not notice the fire continued to work, panicking and running outside when they finally realized the flames. After the flames completely spread throughout the factory, smoke filled the interior, and the footage then went dark.
Additionally, it was observed that some construction machines continued to operate without anyone present after the workers fled from the flames.