They published satellite images! DEDAŞ once again denied the "electricity" claims in the disaster where 15 people died.

On June 20, following the fire disaster that started between Diyarbakır and Mardin and quickly grew, resulting in the loss of 15 lives, Dicle Electricity Board Chairman Mehmet Atalay stated that the cause of the fire was crop burning, by sharing the satellite images previously shared again, after the report of the Chamber of Electrical Engineers (EMO) drew attention to negligence in the electrical line in their report.

"RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE AWAITED PATIENTLY"

In his written statement, Atalay reminded that Dicle Electricity shared with the public the documents and images indicating that the fire that broke out on June 20 in Diyarbakır's Çınar district Köksalan and rural Yazçiçeği neighborhoods and Mardin's Mazıdağı district Yücebağ and Yetkinler rural neighborhoods was not caused by electricity.

In the statement claiming that the starting point of the fire was caused by crop burning, Atalay said, "We once again extend our condolences to our citizens who lost their lives in the fire and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We continue to share all the images and evidence regarding the issue with public institutions and relevant authorities. The fact that the fire was not caused by electricity is proven by documents and images. However, we kindly request our citizens to patiently wait for the results of the investigation conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."

"WE HAD DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM THE ELECTRICITY LINES"

Atalay stated that they confirmed the cause of the fire with satellite and different camera recordings, saying, "In our initial work with our field teams after the fire that occurred on June 20, we determined that the fire did not originate from the electricity lines. Then, we continue to respond to the allegations that reached the press, public opinion, and the prosecutor's office regarding the fire."

I would like to emphasize once again that there is no electricity line in the Köksalan neighborhood where the fire started. On the day immediately after the fire, around 10:00 in the morning, we conducted inspections in the general area of Köksalan neighborhood, where both the low-voltage and medium-voltage networks are located, and we did not come across any conductor disconnection, pole falling, or low-voltage fault. We confirmed our findings with detailed determinations and examinations we made recently, as well as satellite images and different camera recordings."

"CAUSED BY CROP BURNING"

Atalay, stating that the fire was caused by crop burning in two different private properties, said, "Although it has been claimed in some media outlets and social media channels that the fire was caused by electricity, we reiterate with evidence that it did not originate from the electricity lines. As can be seen in the images we obtained from the Sentinel 2 satellite on June 17, 2024, and June 20, 2024, it is clear that the fire was caused by crop burning.

The moisture and temperature indicators also clearly show that crop burning was planned hours before the fire. It was determined that the family of the so-called eyewitness who claimed that the fire was not caused by crop burning and denied the governorship's statement, owned the land. It was also determined that the other land where the fire occurred belonged to another witness's family."

"VISUAL EVIDENCE WAS SUBMITTED TO JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES"

Atalay stated that the camera footage served by some media outlets regarding the fire was dated June 23, 2024, and belonged to the daytime, saying, "The fire, which resulted in the death of 15 citizens and the injury of many people, started in the evening hours on June 20, 2024, while the camera recording in question circulated in the media and social media platforms is dated June 23, 2024, and shows daytime hours. In the video of this fire, which allegedly originated from the electricity lines and broke out in a fruit garden in Derik district of Mardin on Monday, June 24, 2024, it is clearly seen that the recording date on the camera footage is '2024.06.23'."