Houses damaged in controlled explosion in nuclear power plant site

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An explosion occurred at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant site in Turkey's eastern Mediterranean province of Mersin yesterday (January 19). The houses in the vicinity have been damaged in the explosion.

In a written statement released on the official website of Mersin Governor's Office later in the day, it has been indicated that the explosion was "planned" and the damages to the houses will be compensated.

The governor's office has announced that "a damage assessment commission has been established to assess the damages to houses and greenhouses in Büyükeceli region as a result of the planned explosion that occured at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Site."

"Our citizens will be paid damages within this framework," the office has noted and briefly shared the following information:

"A team from the Directorate General of Security Special Security Inspection Department has been appointed to undertake the necessary examination about the explosion. The issue will be examined in all aspects and the necessary action will be taken against the responsible parties."

CHP's Başarır: We don't want these troubles

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır has made a statement after the explosion and said that they, as citizens, do not want to experience such troubles any longer:

"Another explosion occurred in Akkuyu, Mersin. Houses and buildings have been damaged in the two successive explosions at 6.20 p.m. The local people have panicked. We do not want to be faced with these dangers or experience these troubles about the nuclear power plant any more.

"The sub-governor does not give information, the gendarmerie do not give information. They are at the scene of the incident now. The doors, windows and walls of people's houses have been fractured and broken. We could capture as many videos of this as we could.

"Mersin, our fellow townspeople, we do not want to live in this land in this danger. An incident occurs here every week, every month. Please, if you construct a nuclear [plant], do it somewhere which is not an earthquake zone, do it somewhere outside Mersin, in a less dangerous geography. Mersin, the people of Mersin do not want a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu."

CLICK - 'Don't Let Mersin Become Chernobyl'

(EKN/SD)