Case of Sakarya fireworks factory explosion starts

Photo: AA

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The first hearing of the case of an explosion in a fireworks factory on July 3 in Sakarya, northwestern Turkey, was held today (January 6).

Seven workers lost their lives and more than 120 were wounded in what was the seventh explosion at the same factory in 13 years.

Five defendants who were in pre-trial detention, including the owners of the factory, attended the hearing via video conference while two other defendants and plaintiffs were present in the courtroom at the Sakarya 1st Heavy Penal Court.

Before the hearing, relatives of the workers who lost their lives in the explosion held a protest march, showing a banner that read, "Justice for Hendek." (Photo: Progressive Lawyers' Association)

Accepting a request by the plaintiffs' attorneys, the court ruled that the defendants should be brought to the courtroom in the next hearing, which will be held on March 15. The five defendants will be remanded in custody until then.

On February 4 and March 2, the court will examine whether the defendants should continue to stay behind bars.

Abdurrahim Burak, an attorney of Y.C., claimed that the explosion might have occurred because of sabotage and requested the release of his client. His allegation led to a quarrel between him and the plaintiffs' attorneys.

Y.C. requested his release as well, saying that his employees were aggrieved because of his six-month arrest.

What happened?

An explosion occurred at a firework factory in the district of Hendek in Turkey's western province of Sakarya at around 11.15 a.m. on July 3.

The blast was reportedly so powerful that it was heard from several parts of Düzce despite the factory being located 50 kilometers to the city center.

The explosion that took place at Büyük Coşkunlar Firework Factory claimed the lives of seven people and injured 126 others.

Almost a week later, on July 9, an explosion claimed the lives of three soldiers and injured 12 others, including a truck driver, while they were carrying the fireworks waste from the factory.

Addressing the reporters in Sakarya, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu said that the teams preferred to ensure the explosion of the fireworks waste in another place because there was a forest near the scene of the incident.

He announced that "the cause of the explosion would be understood after the ensuing investigation into the incident was concluded." (AS/VK)