More and more municipalities ban the use of fireworks in Turkey

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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Shortly after two firework explosions claimed the lives of 10 people within a week in Sakarya province, several municipalities across the country have started to ban the use of fireworks in their cities and districts.

Following a call by Edirne Mayor Recep Gürkan, the first one to follow suit among metropolitan municipalities was the Metropolitan Municipality of İzmir. Making a statement about the issue on Twitter, Mayor Tunç Soyer has announced that they will not use fireworks in their events from now on.

In a statement released on its website, the Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul has also indicated that "the use of fireworks is now over," suggesting that the municipality will not be using wireworks in their events. Speaking about the issue, Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has said:

"We wish that our Governor's Office will do the necessary in that regard. Because not all permits are related with us. But, from now on, we will not use fireworks in any of our events. We will find different methods. We will hold our celebrations with very different systems."

Shortly afterwards, several district municipalities in İstanbul have also stated that they will not use fireworks in their events any longer. These district municipalities are Adalar, Ataşehir, Beşiktaş, Beylikdüzü, Esenyurt, Kadıköy, Küçükçekmece, Kartal, Maltepe and Sarıyer.

The Municipality of Kars, Datça Municipality in Muğla, Odunpazarı and Tepebaşı Municipalities in Eskişehir, Fındıklı Municipality in Rize and Nilüfer Municipality in Bursa have also made similar announcements.

It was already banned in Avcılar and Bakırköy

Bülent Kerimoğlu, the Mayor of Bakırköy district in İstanbul, has said that the municipal council of Bakırköy has already taken a decision to ban fireworks:

"With this incident, we have, unfortunately, seen how right a decision we have taken by banning fireworks at our municipal council. I hope that it will set an example for the whole country."

Turan Hançerli, the Mayor of Avcılar, has also said, "Fireworks that we have banned by a municipal council decision to protect migratory birds and prevent noise pollution also have an adverse effect on human health."

What happened?

An explosion occurred at a firework factory in the district of Hendek in Turkey's western province of Sakarya at around 11.15 a.m. on July 3.

The blast was reportedly so powerful that it was heard from several parts of Düzce despite the factory being located 50 kilometers to the city center.

The explosion that took place at Büyük Coşkunlar Firework Factory claimed the lives of seven people and injured 126 others.

As part of an investigation launched into the incident by the Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, warrants were issued to detain one manager and two workmasters. Taken into custody by gendarmerie officers, three suspects were taken to the Hendek District Gendarmerie Command.

The day after, on July 5, one more person, an occupational safety specialist, was also detained in Sakarya as part of the investigation.

The judgeship has ruled that these four people shall be arrested on charge of "causing reckless killing and injury of more than one person." One owner of the factory has also been arrested as part of the same investigation.

Almost a week later, on July 9, an explosion claimed the lives of three soldiers and injured 12 others, including a truck driver, while they were carrying the fireworks waste from the factory.

Why should fireworks be banned?

Fireworks have several harmful effects on the environment as well as the health of humans and animals. Even though life defenders have long been campaigning against these harms, especially by launching petitions on platforms such as change.org, they - most of the time - remain fruitless.

Effects on animals

As listed by animal-ethics website, the harmful effects on fireworks on animals can be summarized as follows:

"The hearing of many animals is much more sensitive than it is in humans, so the explosions of fireworks are not only more disturbing to them, but they can damage their hearing more severely. Noises caused by fireworks and firecrackers can lead to loss of hearing and tinnitus. In addition to these harms, the noises caused by fireworks harm animals by causing fear. In fact, repeated exposure to unexpected, unpredictable loud noises can cause phobias in many animals, increasing panic reactions to loud noises in the future.

"It is estimated that one-fifth of disappearances of animals who are companions to humans are due to very loud sounds, mainly fireworks and storms.

"In addition, firecrackers are poisonous, and their explosion releases harmful particles such as fine dust (PM10) that is toxic to inhale. It can worsen existing diseases and cause others. Therefore, fireworks represent a danger both to animals who live in areas where they explode, or in relatively distant locations when the wind transports the particles.

"There is also a risk of ingestion of the residue of fireworks and firecrackers.6 The proximity of the animals to the areas where the firecrackers are made often causes burns and damage to the eyes.

"The chemicals are also dangerous for cats and dogs, just as they are for humans with respiratory diseases such as asthma. Careless use of fireworks can also cause mutilations and fatal accidents in animals near the event, as well as causing fires that harm animals."

Effects on human health and environment

Fireworks have also adverse effects on both environment, leading to air and water pollution, and, thus, on the health of humans. As listed by science-focus website, these effects can be summarized as follows:

"Fireworks propel a cocktail of chemicals into the atmosphere, many of which can harm both people and the environment. The vivid colours in firework displays come from metallic compounds such as barium or aluminium that can have negative impacts on animal and human health.

"Additionally, to produce the oxygen needed for an explosion, many fireworks contain oxidisers known as perchlorates. These can dissolve in water, contaminating rivers, lakes and drinking water.

"Finally, fireworks release a fine cloud of smoke and particulate matter, affecting local air quality. Some newer, 'cleaner' fireworks replace perchlorates with safer alternatives, or use compressed air to reduce smoke created."

(TP/SD)