Arrived For Holiday From Germany: All Four Family Members Died; The Deadly Phosphine Gas Is Suspected To Have Leaked From Bed Bug Pesticide
ISTANBUL, Turkey – The tragic poisoning incident involving the Böcek family, who came to Istanbul from Germany for a holiday, has escalated into an ultimate tragedy. The father, Servet Böcek, who had been kept intubated in intensive care, also succumbed to his illness on Monday, bringing the total number of fatalities in the family to four (mother Çiğdem Böcek, and children Kadir Muhammet and Masal Böcek). The main suspicion behind all these deaths centers on Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning, a lethal substance used for pest control at the hotel.
📝 THE HORRIFIC UPDATE AND SHIFTING FOCUS
The family arrived in Istanbul on November 9th. Initially, after consuming mussels and kumpir, the suspicion focused on food poisoning. However, the investigation shifted dramatically after two other tourists staying at the hotel were also hospitalized.
- Order of Tragedy: First, 6-year-old Kadir Muhammet and 3-year-old Masal Böcek died, followed by mother Çiğdem Böcek on Friday, and finally, father Servet Böcek on Monday.
- The Direction of Suspicion: The subsequent illness of other tourists staying at the hotel prompted police and health units to concentrate their investigation on the hotel premises, away from the initial food poisoning theory.
🧪 CRITICAL CLAIM: DEATH LEAKED THROUGH VENTILATION
The latest information reveals that hours before the family fell ill, a ground-floor room in the hotel was chemically treated for bed bug extermination.
- The Toxin: According to T24, the primary theory is that the substance used in this extermination, which contains Aluminum Phosphide (AlP), may have reached the family’s room via a ventilation shaft in the bathroom void, poisoning the occupants. Treatment for Servet Böcek had already been adjusted based on the strong possibility of Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning.
☠️ THE DEADLY CHEMICAL: WHAT IS ALUMINUM PHOSPHIDE?
Aluminum Phosphide (AlP) is a highly toxic inorganic compound with the formula AlP. The key chemical property that creates the risk of Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning is this:
- Phosphine Gas: AlP, which is typically dark gray or yellow in solid form, releases highly toxic phosphine (PH₃) gas when it contacts moisture, water, or stomach acid.
- Physiological Effect: When inhaled, this gas rapidly enters the bloodstream via the lungs, disrupting cellular oxygen use at the mitochondrial level. This causes fatal outcomes such as shock, heart failure, and multi-organ failure.
- Usage Area: AlP’s primary use is the control of insects and rodents that threaten stored agricultural products and grain. However, its use in poorly ventilated areas or by untrained hands is lethal.
⚠️ EXPERT WARNINGS AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS
The Consumer Problems Association (TÜSODER) issued a severe warning regarding the case: “Pest control in poorly ventilated environments where warnings are not followed is tantamount to setting the stage for homicide.”
- Protection Mandate: TÜSODER stressed that when fumigation occurs even in one apartment, the entire building and nearby areas must take precautions. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines prohibit AlP from coming into direct contact with water or contaminating food.
🛡️ DATA AND OUTCOME
The final report from the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) will confirm whether AlP was the definitive cause of the poisoning. Police are deepening their investigation to determine the degree of negligence on the part of the hotel management and the pest control operator.
