10.11.2025 20:02
The footage has emerged showing the six workers who lost their lives at the perfume facility in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, dancing in a line during a celebration held two months ago for a colleague's wedding at the facility.
In the facility located in the Mimar Sinan neighborhood of the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, a fire broke out around 09:00 on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of Şengül Yılmaz (55), Tuğba Taşdemir (18), Nisa Taşdemir (17), Cansu Esatoğlu (16), Esma Gikan, and Hanım Gülek (52); 7 people were injured, one of them seriously.
THEY DANCED TOGETHER 2 MONTHS AGO
What remains of the deceased workers are entertainment videos taken at the facility about 2 months ago. It was learned that the workers organized a celebration at the facility to congratulate a friend who was going to get married.
In the footage, moments of women, including Şengül Yılmaz, Tuğba Taşdemir, Nisa Taşdemir, Cansu Esatoğlu, Esma Gikan, and Hanım Gülek, who died in the tragedy, laughing and dancing can be seen. Ayfer Aras, who survived the disaster with injuries, could not hold back her tears while showing the videos of those moments.
"YOUNG GIRLS USUALLY COME TO EARN POCKET MONEY FOR SCHOOL"
Sevgi Turung, who worked at the facility for 1 year and then left, made statements regarding the negligence and working conditions at the workplace. Turung said, "Young girls usually came to earn pocket money for school, to work on weekends. No one was insured. For example, Ayfer Aras, who was injured, worked for 4 years, I worked for one year, and we were not insured."
"WE WERE AFRAID, 'WILL IT EXPLODE?'"
Expressing that there were no occupational safety measures at the facility, Turung recounted her experiences: "For example, the boss would come to us and throw his cigarette on the ground. We were afraid, thinking, 'Will it explode?' I worked like that for a year. There were absolutely no safety measures. He didn't pay us properly, he paid little. He didn't provide insurance, he didn't give lunch, everyone brought their own food from home; it was unbearable. That's why I left the job."
"I WANT WORKERS AGED 15-20"
Sevgi Turung also pointed out that women are generally employed at the facility, stating, "When this workplace first opened, they wanted workers aged 15-20. When I went there for a job interview, I was asked, 'How old are you?' When I said I was 30, he said, 'I can't hire you. I want workers aged 15-20.' I said, 'What does that have to do with it? After all, this is a workplace.' A month or two later, he started looking for employees. When the applicants were not girls aged 15-20, but women like us, he had no choice. Girls aged 15 and even 13 were coming. He paid them less than us," she said.