Horrible Well Tragedy in Diyarbakır: 3 Brothers and Aunt's Son Died of Carbon Monoxide

DİYARBAKIR/ÇERMİK - In a tragic incident in a well in Diyarbakır's Çermik district, 4 relatives died after being poisoned by carbon monoxide gas leaking from the generator. The incident turned into a tragedy at around 3:40 p.m., when one after the other went down the well and lost their lives while trying to save each other.

Rescue Attempt Leads to Chain Death

According to the information announced by the Workers' Health and Safety Council (ISIG), the 15-meter-deep well was filled with carbon monoxide gas leaking from the gasoline-powered generator used for water supply. The identities of the 4 people who lost their lives were announced as follows:

• Hanifi Yesilyaprak (38)

• Mehmet Karabağ (33)

• Mehmet Emin Karabağ (35)

• Kemal Karabag (17)

The tragedy began when the first cousin down the well was poisoned. Three brothers and an aunt's son, who descended to the well in turn, were themselves exposed to the invisible killer carbon monoxide gas and unfortunately lost their lives while trying to save their relatives affected by the gas below.

Experts Warn: "Well Cleaning is One of the Most Dangerous Jobs"

This tragic incident once again demonstrated how vital occupational health and safety measures are in confined and confined spaces, especially in work environments close to groundwater and where devices such as generators that produce toxic gases as a result of combustion are used.

Experts frequently emphasize the need to measure gas before working in confined spaces such as wells, silos and tanks, to ensure adequate ventilation and to use experienced and trained teams for rescue operations. A simple rescue attempt can unfortunately easily lead to chain fatalities in such environments.

A judicial and administrative investigation has been launched into this tragedy in Çermik, Diyarbakır.

source: OSH Council