Tragic Vacation Turns Fatal: Family of 4 Dies in Turkey with Suspected Pesticide Poisoning in Hotel

The investigation continues to determine the exact cause of death in this tragic incident.

A family of four has died under suspicious circumstances while on vacation in Turkey. The victims were a Turkish-German woman, her husband, and their two young children who became severely ill after eating popular street food in Istanbul's Ortakoy district near the Bosphorus Bridge. The family had traveled from Germany for their holiday.

All four family members were hospitalized following the incident on Wednesday. Tragically, the children—6-year-old Kadir and 3-year-old Masal—passed away on Thursday. Their mother, Cigdem Bocek, died the following day. The father, Servet Bocek, succumbed on Monday after several days in intensive care.

Istanbul's Regional Health Chief, Dr. Abdullah Emre Guner, announced the deaths on X platform, stating: "The Bocek family, who fell ill and were hospitalized in Fatih, lost their two children and their mother, and despite all medical interventions, their father, Servet Bocek, also lost his life. I offer my condolences to the families... Our investigation into the incident is continuing diligently."

According to CNN Türk, the Bocek family arrived from Hamburg, Germany, to Istanbul for vacation on November 9. During their stay, they reportedly consumed various popular street foods, including mussels with rice, "kumpir" (loaded baked potato), "kokorec" (grilled lamb intestines), and Turkish delight.

Shortly afterward, the children began experiencing nausea and vomiting, with the parents developing similar symptoms. The family sought medical attention on November 12 and were discharged the same day, according to Hürriyet Daily News. However, the mother and children were rushed back to the hospital with high fevers and vomiting, and passed away on November 13.

While initial investigations suggested food poisoning, recent evidence reported by Turkish media and cited by CBS News indicates that the Bocek family may have been exposed to pesticides at their hotel. Authorities suspect they were exposed to a toxic pesticide, possibly aluminium phosphide, that was sprayed in a ground-floor room to address a bed bug infestation and may have reached their first-floor room through a ventilation shaft.

Two additional tourists reportedly became ill at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel on November 15. Investigators have collected samples from bedsheets, pillows, water bottles, and blankets. The family's illness is now suspected to be connected to chemicals possibly spread through the bathroom ventilation system.

The number of people under investigation has increased to 11, including the hotel owner, several staff members, and employees of the pest-control company that recently fumigated the premises. Istanbul's Provincial Health Directorate and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office are conducting the investigation, while the Forensic Medicine Institute will determine the official cause of death for the family.