A tragic fire ripped through a cosmetics factory in Türkiye’s northwestern Kocaeli province on Saturday, leaving six people dead and one person injured, local authorities confirmed.

The blaze broke out early in the morning at an industrial facility located in the Dilovası Organized Industrial Zone, a major production hub near the Marmara Sea. According to the Kocaeli Governor’s Office, fire crews from Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and nearby districts rushed to the scene following an emergency call reporting heavy smoke and explosions inside the plant.

Governor İlhami Aktaş stated that the fire was contained after several hours of intense firefighting operations. Rescue teams recovered six bodies from the debris, while one factory worker was taken to Gebze Fatih State Hospital with severe burns and respiratory injuries.

“Despite all efforts, we lost six of our citizens in this unfortunate incident,” Governor Aktaş said in a press statement. “The fire has been completely brought under control, and cooling efforts are ongoing.”

Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the fire, with forensic and fire safety experts inspecting the ruins. Initial findings suggest that the blaze may have originated in a chemical storage area, where flammable materials used in perfume and lotion production were kept.

Eyewitnesses and surviving employees described scenes of panic and chaos as the fire spread rapidly through the multi-story facility.

“There was a loud explosion, and flames spread across the upper floor within minutes,” said one factory worker who escaped unhurt. “We tried to help our colleagues, but the smoke was too dense.”

Residents living near the industrial zone reported hearing several blasts and seeing thick black smoke rising from the factory. Firefighters battled the blaze for over three hours before bringing it under control.

The tragedy has reignited concerns about industrial safety standards in the Dilovası district, which is home to hundreds of factories, including chemical and petrochemical facilities. Environmental groups and labor unions have long warned that lax oversight and outdated fire systems could lead to such disasters.

Local authorities have ordered safety inspections at other factories in the area to prevent similar incidents. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security also announced that a special commission will review the company’s compliance with occupational safety regulations.

The bodies of the victims have been transferred to the Kocaeli Forensic Medicine Institute for identification. Preliminary reports indicate that most of the deceased were night-shift workers who were inside the production area when the fire erupted.

Families of the victims have gathered outside the factory and local hospitals, waiting anxiously for updates. The Kocaeli Governorate has pledged psychological and financial support to the families affected by the tragedy.

Cooling operations and smoke evacuation continued at the site, while teams from AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) and police forensic units joined the investigation, local sources reported. (ILKHA)