Chemical poisoning at EKTAM Kıbrıs Pepsi production facility

Three workers were hospitalized following a chemical poisoning incident at the EKTAM Kıbrıs Limited Pepsi production facility in Köprülü village, operated by Sarex Ltd. The incident reportedly occurred when an unauthorized individual incorrectly adjusted chemical gas levels, leading to an excessive use of chemical agents.

Multiple employees reported symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, and skin irritation. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has ordered an immediate halt to production at the facility. The Ministry of Health has also collected samples from the site for investigation.

Workers involved in the incident, including Emine Fidan, Belgin Göbelek, and Fatma Aktaş, alleged that they were not provided with protective equipment such as masks or gloves and received no prior warning regarding the chemicals. The labor union DEV-İŞ announced it would pursue legal action against those responsible for the negligence, noting that the unauthorized person used to adjust the chemicals lacked the necessary expertise.