Turkey: Batman Floating on Sea of Gasoline

The committee concluded that the explosion was equivalent to an earthquake measuring nine on the Richter scale and said the City was barely saved from a disaster.

Ercan said, "We came across the gasoline during our research. A 5km area is under threat. There is a sea of gasoline under Sirinevler and Republic Streets around the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS). Excavations at 60 sites discovered gasoline."

Ercan warned that there is a still a threat to human life saying, "The necessary measures have to be taken as soon as possible. If required, some points may have to be condemned."

All eyes turn to TUPRAS

TUPRAS’ Regional Director, Yusuf Yakut, said, "All gasoline and waste here does not belong to TUPRAS. Oil institutions are also responsible for the leakage.

Batman Governor, Efkan Ala, confirmed the purified gasoline leakage.

Purified gasoline was accessed in many regions during the process of digging wells. Ala drew attention to the fact that some citizens have tapped gasoline individually with the digging of wells since 1970.

Ala said, "We wanted to bring the subterranean lines to the surface. We will control those areas where the pipelines pass."