1 Injured in Explosion at Garden of a House in Yüksekova

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An explosion has occurred at the garden of a house in Yüksekova district in Turkey's southeastern province of Hakkari, leaving 30 year-old İbrahim Akdağ injured.

Speaking to bianet about the incident, Erkan Çapraz from Yüksekova News has stated that a crime scene investigation has been carried out at both explosion sites where İbrahim Akdağ was injured and 10 year-old Berat Oktay lost his life the previous day (March 10).

Indicating that Güngör Neighborhood is one of the two neighborhoods which has suffered the largest-scale destruction and the most serious conflicts during the period of curfews and operations, Çapraz has added that these two incidents have also taken place in this neighborhood.

Most families in the neighborhood had previously abandoned their houses during the period of operations and returned their homes once the operations were completed.

Upon the declaration of curfew in Yüksekova on March 13, 2016, operations and conflicts started in the district. The curfew was partially abolished on May 30, 2016 and the people of Yüksekova who had to abandon their houses started to return their homes after this date.

During the 78-day curfew, most buildings at the district center were demolished and 95 people lost their lives. During this period, more than 6 thousand houses were also devastated.

After surgery, Akdağ is treated at intensive care

The family of Akdağ has stated that after undergoing a successful surgical operation and recovering from death, İbrahim Akdağ is still being treated at intensive care unit.

The source of explosion is being investigated

At an explosion which took place at an open land in the same neighborhood the previous day around 4.30 p.m., the 10 year-old Berat Oktay was seriously injured. After being taken to Yüksekova Public Hospital, Oktay lost his life in Van, where was later referred to for further treatment.

It has happened before

Again in Yüksekova, on September 30, 2017, 5 year-old Umut Kozay and his 7 year-old brother, E.K. found an explosive material and while they were playing with this material, it exploded, causing Umut Kozay to lose his life and leaving his brother seriously injured.
Stating that "no one from the state has called them about the incident", the father Cemil Kozay said, "The place where the explosion took place is 15 meters away from the police station, it is demolished and even the debris has been removed. Numerous people pass by this place everyday. Children play games there all the time. They say that they have cleared everywhere after the 78-day curfew, but they did not even clear the front of their own houses or they throw it [explosive] there on purpose." (AS/SD)

*Photograph: Yaşar Kaplan - Hakkari / DHA