Six killed, seven injured after blaze at perfume warehouse in Kocaeli

A fire at a perfume warehouse in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli province on Friday killed six people and injured seven more, one in serious condition, local authorities said. Witnesses alleged the site operated without the proper permits and that children may have been among those working inside.

Fire breaks out at warehouse in Mimar Sinan neighbourhood

The fire began for reasons that are still under investigation at a storage facility in the Mimar Sinan neighbourhood of Dilovası. Thick smoke quickly rose above the site and was visible from a distance, prompting residents to call the emergency services.

Emergency crews including fire, police and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but responders later discovered people trapped inside the building.

Casualties named; bodies removed for autopsy

Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş confirmed that six people lost their lives in the incident and seven others were taken to hospital, one in serious condition. He offered condolences to the families of the victims.

Local authorities identified the deceased as Şengül Yılmaz, Tuğba Taşdemir, Cansu Esetoğlu, Nisa Taşdemir, Esma Gigan and Hanım Gülekin. Their bodies were removed from the factory and taken to the morgue for autopsy as investigators search the premises for any additional victims.

Criminal investigation opened

Turkey’s Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said a judicial investigation has been launched and that the Gebze Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had assigned prosecutors and an expert team to the case. Authorities have carried out searches at the site and seized evidence as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Witnesses allege safety violations and child labour

Residents and witnesses described chaotic scenes during and after the fire and alleged long-standing safety and licensing problems at the facility. Several eyewitnesses told reporters the building had no working permit and that authorities had previously received complaints about the site. Some witnesses claimed children were working inside the warehouse at the time of the blaze; those allegations are being investigated.

One local resident said they had repeatedly reported the structure and alleged that demolition orders had not been enforced. Officials have not confirmed the claims about child labour or permit violations.

Presidential condolences and official response

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered condolences and noted that relevant government ministries had launched investigations into the incident. Local officials said emergency support is being provided to the injured and to the families of the deceased.