Two suspects detained over chemical waste dumped in Istanbul lake

ISTANBUL

Two suspects were detained in connection with chemical waste dumped into the Büyükçekmece lake basin in Istanbul.

The incident was discovered on April 22 after locals notified the authorities of the situation.

Büyükçekmece Municipality employees and experts from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) were dispatched to the Büyükçekmece Lakin Basin area to investigate.

Police officers examined the security footage and found that a truck belonging to a textile company in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul brought and dumped the waste into the Büyükçekmece lake basin.

The driver and the digger operator of the truck were detained. The chemical waste was identified as Iron (II) sulfide and heptahydrate.

Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün brought attention to the fact that the district was in the news only a month ago due to another chemical waste dump, which had killed 10 sheep and numerous chickens. He said the Büyükçekmece Lake had to be “protected” with “high-technological cameras,” as well as “teams operating 24/7.”