In the district of Nilüfer in Bursa, a small explosion occurred in a three-story building on 199th Street in the Kayapa neighborhood. The sole resident of the ground floor apartment, identified as Atakan A, who was reported to have psychological issues, caused a minor fire as a result of the explosion.
Emergency services including the fire department, the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), police, and paramedics were dispatched to the scene following the report of the explosion. Atakan A, who was injured in the blast, received initial medical treatment at the scene and was then transferred to Bursa City Hospital.
Authorities suspect that Atakan A caused the explosion by cutting the natural gas pipe in his home and igniting a lighter to create a build-up of gas. Atakan A was known to have been undergoing psychological treatment and had entered a state of depression after his wife left him. Additionally, drug paraphernalia was found on his person.
The explosion resulted in the collapse of walls on the ground floor, causing damage to five apartments on the upper floors of the building as well as to Atakan A’s car parked on the street. Investigators are currently working to determine the full extent of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The landlord of the building, Hüseyin Balı, reported that he noticed the sound of gas flowing from the meter and was about to intervene to shut it off when the explosion occurred. Balı stated that Atakan A had unscrewed the valve handle, leading to a build-up of gas inside the apartment. After the blast, Atakan A attempted to flee from the scene, causing Balı to try and restrain him.
Balı estimated that the explosion had caused damages amounting to approximately 3-4 million Turkish Lira. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities focusing on Atakan A’s actions and mental state leading up to the explosion. Residents of the neighborhood have expressed shock and concern over the incident and the resulting damage to the building and surrounding areas.
