2 People Lost Their Lives in Apartment Explosion in Çorlu, Natural Gas Possibility Being Considered

A terrible explosion that occurred last night around 23:00 in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ unnerved the entire city and resulted in loss of life. The incident began in the apartment where a family of Syrian nationality resided on the top floor of the 6-story Adalet Apartmanı located in Cemaliye Mahallesi Borsa Meydanı, causing a fire with a loud noise. The force of the explosion was so great that serious damage occurred in the other three apartments on the same floor, while a portion of the building's front wall completely collapsed. Residents of the building and the surrounding area had to urgently evacuate their homes in a panic, feeling a tremor like an earthquake. Immediately after the incident, police, health, fire department, and AFAD teams were dispatched to the area to begin their work.

The extent of the damage caused by the explosion and the loss of life became clearer in the morning hours. In the examinations, it was determined that 33-year-old Muhammet el Hüseyin, who was alone in the apartment at the time of the explosion, was thrown about 60 meters by the force of the blast into the building's garden and lost his life at the scene. Caner Meriç, who lived in another apartment on the same floor and was affected by the explosion, his wife Songül Meriç, and 66-year-old Mehmet Zurnacı, who was passing by on the road at the time, were injured. While the injured were urgently taken to Çorlu Devlet Hastanesi, Caner Meriç, who was heavily injured, could not be saved despite all interventions by doctors and lost his life. It was learned that the health conditions of the other injured were mild and their treatment continued.

Çorlu Kaymakamı Niyazi Erten, who personally followed the inspections at the scene, announced in a statement to journalists that the explosion was likely caused by a natural gas leak. Stating that a total of 89 citizens lived in the building and the building was completely emptied temporarily as a security measure, Kaymakam Erten expressed that necessary works were initiated to meet the sheltering needs of the evacuated citizens. Erten shared with the public that one of the 3 injured sent to the hospital had died, raising the total death toll to 2, and that 2 people were injured and receiving treatment.

With the first lights of the morning, damage assessment work began in the building, and teams from the environment, urbanization, and climate change provincial directorates made detailed examinations. Apartment residents, who spent the night in hotels or relatives' houses and had damage to their homes, returned to the building in the morning hours to see their homes and belongings. Police teams did not allow entry by stretching a security tape around the building so that possible risks and inspections could be carried out healthily. While Çorlu Belediyesi teams continued cleaning and support work in the region, the Syrian family residing in the apartment where the explosion took place also came in front of the building to follow the situation.

Mahalle resident Nuri Küçükler, describing the earthquake moment they experienced, stated that the force of the explosion was indescribably great and left everyone in deep shock. Upon hearing the sound of the explosion, citizens took to the streets to check on the condition of their relatives and neighbors. During the moment of panic, great effort was made to check the health of acquaintances and relatives. On the other hand, the security camera of a workplace in the vicinity recorded the moment of the explosion second by second. In the footage, the damage to the building and the scattered debris due to the force of the explosion are reflected on the camera, while officials state that technical investigation is continuing regarding the definitive cause of the incident.