‘Sauna and electrical panel’ detail in Batman fire: Three died from smoke inhalation

The fire that killed three people at a sports center in Batman started near an electrical panel close to the sauna, according to Abdulhamit Çakan, president of the Batman Bar Association. The blaze then spread from the sauna to other parts of the facility.

Twelve people were taken to hospital after the fire broke out in the sauna section of the sports center in Gültepe district on the evening of Aug. 30. Three of the injured people later died: Şanzime Sarıgül, 44, Emine Yani, 42, and lawyer Gülsüm Öztekin Tunç, 43, a mother of two. Sarıgül and Yani worked at a Children’s Homes Site run by the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.

Çakan said the three victims had no burns, and that the case details pointed to death from smoke inhalation. He said a chain of negligence was suspected, but added that the full scope of any failures would emerge through expert reports prepared toward the end of the investigation.

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We are aware that there was a chain of negligence. However, reports on this generally emerge toward the end of the investigation.

The Batman Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation. Two business officials and three employees were detained. After questioning, the two officials were jailed, one employee was placed under judicial control, and two others were released.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek attended a condolence gathering on Sept. 1 after learning that Emine Yani was the daughter of his brother, Ahmet Şimşek. Education Minister Yusuf Tekin also visited the family with Batman Governor Ekrem Canalp and AK Party provincial chairman Hüseyin Şansi. Çakan said the bar association remained in contact with prosecutors and was closely following the case.

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What negligence occurred? What kind of negligence was it? Whose negligence was involved? All of this will be clarified in every aspect.