Rescuers and firefighters working at the site of a perfume warehouse where a fire broke out in the Dilovasi district of Kocaeli. Photo by Handout / DHA-Demiroren News Agency / AFP
Ankara: A blaze erupted early Saturday at a perfume warehouse in an industrial town in northwestern Turkey housing numerous depots and factories, killing six people and injuring five, officials said.
The fire in Dilovasi was brought under control by firefighters, rescue teams and municipal staff, Ilhami Aktas, the governor of Kocaeli province, told public broadcaster TRT Haber.
"Six of our citizens have unfortunately lost their lives," Aktas said.
"One of the injured is in a critical condition due to burns," he said, adding that the fire broke out at 9:00 am (0600 GMT).
"Four others are in relatively stable condition and receiving treatment," he added.
Aktas said the fire "was rapidly controlled and put out" and added that an investigation had been launched to "determine the cause of the blaze".
Media reports earlier said two people had been injured.
Two storeys of the building used as a depot were destroyed in the fire, images aired by the Turkish NTV channel showed. The origins of the fire were still unclear.
"I heard an explosion... I looked from my balcony and saw that the clothes of a colleague had caught fire. I took a hose and I put the flames out. I then saw flames engulf the factories. There were cries" from the building, a witness told the private NTV channel.
Located around 70 kilometres (43 miles) from Istanbul, Dilovasi is an industrial town hosting numerous depots and factories.
