According to a report by Turkey's Daily Sabah on the 22nd, fire remains one of the major safety issues facing Istanbul in 2025. Official data shows that last year, an average of one fire occurred in the city every 18 minutes and 54 seconds.
According to data from the Istanbul Fire Department, the leading cause of fires is improper use of fire and human negligence, accounting for 28.5% of all fire causes. Related incidents are mainly associated with incompletely extinguished cigarette butts, matches and lighters, unattended stove flames, and children playing with fire.
The second leading cause of fires is improper use of heat sources, mainly including electrical wiring faults, transformer-related accidents, and unsafe use of electrical appliances such as electric stoves, irons, and heaters.
Data shows that in 2025, over 56% of fires in Istanbul will originate from preventable factors, especially human negligence and electrical malfunctions. Authorities emphasize that strengthening public safety awareness, conducting routine electrical inspections, and promoting basic home fire safety measures will help significantly reduce the occurrence of fires.
In April 2024, a fire broke out in a building in Istanbul due to illegal welding operations, killing 29 people. (End)
