Lightning strikes protesters in western Turkey, injures one

KÜTAHYA – Doğan News Agency

The protestors are demanding the re-employment of 18 workers who were fired from the lignite company Çelikler Seyitömer. DHA Photo

One worker was slightly injured when he was struck by lightning during a sit-in protest over 18 workers who were fired in the western province of Kütahya, late on June 15.

Ömer Tuncan, 25, was injured when lightning struck him in an open area where he had been holding a sit-in protest with other workers since June 10.

The protestors demanded the re-employment of 18 workers who were fired from the lignite company Çelikler Seyitömer.

Before the lightning struck, strong rains poured onto the area late June 15, where around 150 people, workers, and their families were camped out in tents.

Tuncan was hospitalized immediately after the incident. He was wounded in his right arm and was discharged from the hospital a few hours later. After being discharged, he returned to the area where the protests were.

“We went to the tent during the rain. Lightning struck when I was waiting with my friends inside the tent. My arm was in the air when I was telling my friend something. As the lightning hit, I could not hold my arm and it went numb. Then I fainted. I was in hospital when I woke up again,” Tuncan said.

Hours before the lightning incident occurred, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Head Yakup Akkaya and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Kütahya deputy Alim Işık had visited the workers in the area where they were staging their protests.

Both voiced their support and said the privatization of such companies was “exploitation.”