Dilovası factory fire legal proceedings

Following a fatal fire at an illegal perfume filling facility in Dilovası, Kocaeli, which claimed the lives of seven workers including three children, families and legal representatives have sought justice against both business owners and public officials.

Initially, protesters gathered at the Social Security Institution to demand accountability, alleging that the facility operated without proper licensing and that authorities, including the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and the Kocaeli Fire Department, failed in their oversight duties. Families argued that the tragedy was facilitated by official complicity and a lack of social security coverage for workers.

Legal proceedings progressed to an on-site investigation by a court delegation at the Dilovası Municipality. This investigation focused on the municipality’s licensing processes and the ‘Digikent’ digital application to determine the chain of responsibility. During the inspection, legal representatives reported difficulties obtaining information from municipal staff. The investigation was marked by a verbal confrontation between the victims’ families and the defense attorney after comments were made regarding the employment of minors at the factory.