Tuzla faces chemical odor crisis following illegal sewage discharge

A severe odor crisis has struck the Tuzla district of Istanbul and parts of Kocaeli, including Gebze, Darıca, and Çayırova. Residents reported a heavy, chemical-like smell that persisted overnight, causing significant distress and preventing people from opening windows.

Tuzla Mayor Eren Ali Bingöl announced that municipal teams identified an illegal discharge of chemical waste into the sewage system in the Orta and Şifa neighborhoods. Investigations suggest the discharge was carried out via a vacuum truck that reportedly broke sewage covers to release the waste. The contamination spread from Orta Mahalle through Şifa Mahalle toward the coastline and the İSKİ treatment plant.

Mayor Bingöl has criticized the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) for failing to initiate remedial work despite being notified of the situation. While local police are working to identify the responsible parties, the Mayor has called on İSKİ to take immediate responsibility for the infrastructure and waste management to alleviate the suffering of Tuzla residents.