Every puddle after rain can carry an electrical hazard!

The death of 14-year-old Mahmut Işıldak in Fatih, Istanbul, after being electrocuted in a puddle formed after rain, has brought electrical safety in public areas back to the agenda. Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur from the Occupational Health and Safety Department pointed out that an ordinary-looking puddle can pose a deadly danger, and warned, “There doesn't need to be a spark, smoke, or any other sign on the water. An ordinary-looking puddle can also be dangerous.” Temur stated that it is not possible for citizens to detect an invisible electrical leak, and added, “It is important for citizens to be careful; however, their ability to walk safely in public areas cannot be left to their skill in detecting an invisible electrical leak.”

Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur from the Üsküdar University Occupational Health and Safety Department evaluated the fatal risks that can arise when rainwater comes into contact with electrical installations, the responsibilities of institutions responsible for electrical safety in public areas, and the measures that should be taken to prevent similar accidents.

“An ordinary-looking puddle can also be dangerous”

Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur stated that water accumulating in streets and parks after rain can turn into a deadly danger when it comes into contact with damaged electrical cables or installations with electrical leaks. He said, “Deterioration of cable insulation, improperly made connections, open panel covers, and lack of maintenance pave the way for this danger. Street water can conduct electricity because it contains soil, salt, and various pollutants. Current passing through a person's body entering a dangerous area can cause the heart and respiration to stop.”

Emphasizing that citizens cannot determine whether puddles are safe by their appearance, Dr. Temur said, “Moreover, there doesn't need to be a spark, smoke, or any other sign on the water. An ordinary-looking puddle can also be dangerous. AFAD also emphasizes that floodwaters can pose an electrical hazard due to damaged power lines.”

“Division of duties between institutions should not delay intervention”

Stating that electrical safety in public areas is not the responsibility of a single institution, and that responsibility varies according to the ownership and operating authority of the electrical facility, Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur continued:

“Distribution companies are responsible for the distribution network and street and road lighting within the scope of general lighting; for facilities operated by municipalities, the relevant municipalities have duties. Therefore, it is not correct to hold a single institution responsible for all facilities. However, this division of duties should not create a gap in responding to danger. Coordination must be ensured in maintenance, control, fault repair, and infrastructure works; people should be prevented from being exposed to danger while discussing which institution an alert belongs to.”

Dr. Temur added that facility records should be examined and technical research should be conducted to determine responsibility in such incidents.

“The presence of a residual current device alone is not sufficient”

Dr. Temur stated that grounding and residual current protection systems used in electrical installations are vital, and said that it is imperative that these systems are installed correctly and tested regularly.

“Properly designed, correctly installed, and regularly tested protection systems reduce the risk of death,” said Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur, providing the following information:

“Grounding, in the event of a fault, helps the protection system operate. A residual current device detects the leak under appropriate conditions and cuts off the electricity. However, the mere presence of the device does not mean safety is ensured; it must be correctly selected, connected, and its operation measured. These devices do not provide absolute protection under all circumstances.”

Emphasizing that a definitive assessment cannot be made regarding the cause of the incident in Fatih without a technical investigation, Dr. Temur said, “In the incident where a child was electrocuted in a puddle; the source of the leak, cable insulation, grounding connections, the suitability of protection devices, and why the electricity was not cut off in time must be investigated. It would not be correct to point to a specific fault or negligence as the definite cause without a technical investigation.”

“Excessive rainfall reveals weaknesses in electrical infrastructure”

Dr. Temur stated that in cities with dense urbanization like Istanbul, concrete and asphalt surfaces reduce the penetration of rainwater into the soil, and inadequate drainage systems increase puddles and raise the likelihood of electrical installations coming into contact with water.

Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur explained that insulation deteriorations and sealing losses at connection points, especially in aging electrical infrastructure, pose serious risks, and said:

“Water entering panels can cause short circuits and electrical leaks. In lighting poles, dangerous voltage can occur on metal bodies due to damaged cables or water-damaged connections. While damage from past excavations and insulation defects in underground cables create risk, cable splices and junction boxes can also become fault points if not protected against water ingress.”

Underlining that electrical safety should not only focus on the age of the installation, Dr. Temur said, “The age of the facility alone is not decisive here; a new but incorrectly installed system can also be dangerous. Controls should assess whether the installation remains safe under flood conditions, in addition to operating in normal weather.”

“Do not enter the water to rescue someone who has been electrocuted!”

Warning that unconscious interventions by citizens in puddles with electrical leaks could lead to a second fatality, Dr. Temur said, “It is not possible for citizens to reliably understand an electrical leak by looking at it. An open panel, a severed cable, or a spark is a sign of danger; the absence of these does not mean it is safe. Do not enter suspicious water, do not touch nearby poles and metal surfaces, and warn others from a safe point.”

Emphasizing that direct contact with a person who has been electrocuted can also have fatal consequences, Dr. Temur said, “If a person has been electrocuted, they should not be touched, and one should not enter the water to rescue them. Intervening by relying on wood, a stick, or rubber shoes is also not safe. 112 should be notified immediately, and 186 specifically for electrical hazards. First aid should be administered under the guidance of 112 after it is confirmed that the power has been cut and the area is safe.”

“Electrical installations must be inspected according to flood conditions”

Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur stated that to prevent similar deaths, electrical installations, especially in flood-prone areas, should be prioritized for inspection, and that in risky areas, power should be cut off when necessary, and citizens' access to dangerous areas should be prevented.

Dr. Temur listed the measures to be taken as follows:

“Electrical installations in flood-affected areas should be prioritized for inspection; power should be cut off in necessary areas and access prevented until identified deficiencies are remedied. The location of panels and their protection against water should be regulated according to flood risk, and maintenance and measurement results should be recorded. Cable safety should be verified after excavation works; power should not be restored to facilities affected by floods without a technical inspection.”

“Safety cannot be left to citizens to detect the danger”

Emphasizing that the most important factor in preventing electrical accidents is taking necessary precautions before dangers arise, Dr. Temur stated that safety in public areas cannot be left to the individual attention of citizens.

Asst. Prof. Sertaç Temur concluded his words as follows:

“From the perspective of safety culture, the fundamental issue is to detect and eliminate danger before a fatality occurs. This requires following up on reports, rapid intervention by institutions, and verification of repairs made. It is important for citizens to be careful; however, their ability to walk safely in public areas cannot be left to their skill in detecting an invisible electrical leak.”