After two people lost their lives after being electrocuted while trying to escape from a downpour in the Konak district of Izmir, a group protested by painting the gratings on the street where the incident took place red.
The investigation into the incident that occurred on July 12 in Enver Dündar Başer Street in Alsancak continues. 33 of the 35 suspects who are employees of İZSU General Directorate and Gdz Elektrik were detained. While 6 suspects were released after giving their statements, the procedures for 27 suspects at the police station are ongoing.
Civil society organizations gathered on the street where the incident took place and organized a protest to keep the memory of those who died alive. In a statement made on behalf of the group that painted the gratings red, it was said, “We want to leave a mark in their memory. We will send a petition to the municipality to build a monument. We want the memory of our friends “to live on here and we want similar pain not to happen again.”
In addition, it was observed that necessary repairs were made to the lighting poles following reactions due to deficiencies and open cables on the street.
“Electrical Infrastructure Should Be Revised”
Officials from a contracting company carrying out an infrastructure project in Izmir have drawn attention to the problems experienced in the city’s electrical infrastructure, arguing that the entire infrastructure needs to be reviewed. Alaattin Epözdemir, a member of the Public Contractors Association High Advisory Board, emphasized the importance of positioning the city’s electrical lines close to the surface, and stated that the electrical infrastructure in Izmir needs to be revised urgently.
Epözdemir said, “Izmir’s electricity infrastructure in particular needs to be revised urgently. There is no one who does not know that electricity lines pass close to the surface. I think this problem is a problem in Izmir as a whole. I think Gdz Electricity should “be included in the rainwater and sewage line separation project and the electricity infrastructure should be completely reviewed.”
