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Family from Hamburg dies from poison in Istanbul hotel – scandal!
A Hamburg family died of insecticide poisoning in Istanbul. Investigations into the cause of death and hotel conditions are ongoing.
Family from Hamburg dies from poison in Istanbul hotel – scandal!
A tragedy has overshadowed the Hamburg family who wanted to spend their vacation in Istanbul. On November 27, 2025, the Istanbul public prosecutor's office reported the results of a forensic medical examination, which confirmed the family's dire fate. As the DW Reportedly, the family died of poisoning from the highly toxic gas phosphine, which was detected in their hotel room.
The Hamburg family traveled to Istanbul on November 9th. The first health problems arose just three days later. Nausea, vomiting and pain forced them to seek short-term medical treatment, but they soon returned to the hotel. On November 13th, their condition worsened dramatically and the two children died shortly after being admitted to the hospital. The mother and father, despite intensive medical care, were also saved and died in the following days.
Causes and investigations
Initially, food poisoning was suspected as the cause as the family had consumed street food. But like that Time According to reports, the investigation quickly moved to the hotel after other guests experienced similar symptoms. An analysis revealed that the gas phosphine had been released from aluminum phosphide, an insecticide commonly used to control pests in Turkey.
Eleven people were arrested during the investigation, including hotel workers and employees of a pest control company. Six suspects, including the hotel owner and the operator of the pest control company, were taken into custody. During the investigation, the investigators found residues of phosphine in towels and wipe samples in the hotel room, which confirmed the investigating officers' suspicions.
Serious consequences and reactions
The incidents shine a bright light on safety standards in Turkey and the use of chemical pesticides by hoteliers. President Erdoğan counted on the importance of food safety and announced comprehensive controls. There have already been at least 15 mass poisonings in Turkey in November, increasing concerns about safety for both locals and tourists.
The case has also brought to light other accidents in the region, including that of a three-year-old child who died in 2025 and had similar symptoms. The RND highlights that aluminum phosphide can only be used in populated areas with special licenses, which underlines the danger of the incident. The Istanbul Governorate has already announced that it will tighten controls on street vendors and food safety to prevent future incidents.
The tragedy of the Hamburg family is a painful wake-up call that draws attention to unsolved poisoning cases in Turkey. Education must now be pursued at full speed in order to restore confidence in the safety measures in the tourism sector and prevent similar fates.