Horror in Diyarbakır Well Tragedy: Four Relatives Die of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

DIYARBAKIR/ÇERMİK – A devastating accident in the Çermik district of Diyarbakır resulted in the tragic deaths of four relatives—three brothers and a cousin—who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while attempting to clean a well used for watering livestock. The incident, which occurred around 3:40 PM, escalated into a tragedy as the victims descended into the well one after another in a desperate attempt to rescue each other.

Failed Rescue Attempt Leads to Chain of Deaths

According to information shared by the Assembly for Occupational Health and Safety (İSİG Meclisi), the 15-meter-deep well had filled with carbon monoxide gas leaking from a gasoline-powered generator used for water pumping. The gas, known as the "silent killer," claimed the lives of:

• Hanifi Yeşilyaprak (38)

• Mehmet Karabağ (33)

• Mehmet Emin Karabağ (35)

• Kemal Karabağ (17)

The tragedy began when the first cousin became instantly poisoned upon entering the hazardous environment. The three brothers and their cousin descended sequentially, attempting to rescue the person below, only to be fatally overwhelmed by the colorless, odorless carbon monoxide gas themselves.

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

This tragic event once again highlights the critical lack of occupational health and safety measures in confined and restricted spaces, particularly those where generators or other combustion-producing equipment are used near subterranean areas.

Safety experts repeatedly emphasize that before working in confined spaces such as wells, silos, or tanks, it is absolutely essential to perform gas measurements, ensure adequate ventilation, and only use trained and equipped personnel for rescue operations. A simple, untrained rescue attempt in such environments can tragically lead to multiple, sequential fatalities.

A judicial and administrative investigation has been launched into the disaster that occurred in Diyarbakır's Çermik district.