A major fire erupted in a perfume warehouse in the Kocaeli province, Turkey’s industrial heartland in northwestern Turkey, on Wednesday morning. The crash occurred around 9 a.m. eastern time. Tragically, six of our neighbors died and one person was injured and is currently being treated in a hospital.
The source of the fire has not yet been determined. Witnesses claimed there was at least one explosion before the fire started. This raised alarming questions about the safety of the area’s surrounding community. Rescue teams and firefighters immediately crowded the location. At the same time, their performance displayed great coordination and sense of urgency as they rushed to put this massive incident under control.
Within an hour, firefighters arrived on scene and swiftly took control. Their action subdued the fire, preventing additional destruction of the depot and other surrounding properties. Ilhami Aktas, the governor of Kocaeli province, sent his condolences to the victims and their families. He recognized the quick response from emergency personnel that saved lives and property.
Fire departments are in search of the cause of the fire. They have done an excellent job in avoiding speculation by focusing only on the needed facts that can speak about whatever might have happened to cause this tragedy. Safety experts will be sure to participate in any site assessment needed to prevent a similar future tragedy from occurring again.
