Cause of Death: Insecticide Used Inside the Hotel Analyses Confirm Phosphine Gas Poisoning Used for Pest Control

Official Turkish reports have revealed new developments in the tragic death of a German tourist family in Istanbul, a case that has recently drawn widespread public attention.

The family—father Servet Bojik (37), mother Çiğdem (26), and their children Kadir Mehmet (6) and Masal (3)—were found unconscious inside a hotel in the Fatih district and later died in the hospital.

Cause of Death

The final forensic report clearly indicated that the cause of death was the insecticide used inside the hotel, specifying that analyses confirmed poisoning by phosphine gas, a toxic substance formed when aluminum phosphide is used for pest control.

Experts confirmed that inhaling this gas at high concentrations quickly leads to respiratory failure and fatal complications.

As part of the investigation, authorities have detained 11 people, including the hotel owners and staff, as well as pesticide company workers. The city administration also closed the hotel and relocated its guests after three other tourists from Morocco and Italy showed symptoms of poisoning, though their health conditions have not yet been clarified.

Investigations indicate that during their visit to Istanbul, the family consumed several local meals from restaurants and street vendors, including popular dishes such as “Tantuni” (fried meat) and “Kokoreç” (grilled intestines), as well as traditional Turkish sweets, raising questions about possible poisoning through food or air inside the hotel.

Awaiting Final Results

The public prosecutor’s office continues to follow the case to determine responsibility, while the public awaits further details on the circumstances of the family’s deaths, amid widespread concerns about safety measures in Istanbul hotels and tourist restaurants.