A hotel in Akbük has apologised after it was fined 1.1 million TL for the discharge of wastewater into the Aegean Sea.

The wastewater discharged from a septic tank at Long Beach Club Nature, formerly the French Holiday Village. The incident sparked a major demonstration from about 200 Akbük residents in front of the hotel this week.

Teams from Aydin Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change attended and confirmed the wastewater had emanated from Long Beach Club Nature.

After an investigation, the hotel was fined 1.1 million TL and a criminal complaint filed with the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor.

Long Beach Club Nature Business Manager Ayhan Yetişyiğit and Facility Lawyer Ahmet Sipahioğlu later spoke to local journalist Umut Kaşan about the issue.

Yetişyiğit said that they were very saddened by this situation, adding: “The motor of the septic tank belonging to the hotel malfunctioned. The wastes started to overflow and the wastes mixed with the rainwater discharge line and the wastes reached the sea for 15 minutes.

“We fixed this problem in a short time; however, this sad situation emerged.”

Stating that the same problem will not occur again, Yetişyiğit said: “As Long Beach Club Nature, we are a facility with high environmental and nature sensitivity.

“We do not spare any expense in order to protect the environment for any problems that may arise due to infrastructure problems. Again, we apologise to the people of Akbük.”

A post on the social media account of the Aydın Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, said: “As a result of the work of our inspection teams affiliated with the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, it was determined the wastewater was discharged into the sea due to the overflow of a septic tank belonging to a hotel in Didim Akbük neighborhood.

“As a result of the inspection, the discharge line was cancelled and a fine of 1 million 161 thousand TL was imposed on the business. Initiatives have been initiated to file a criminal complaint with the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor against the business officials.”

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum republished the ministry’s post on the subject on his social media account, emphasized the negativity experienced in the touristic district and the intervention of the teams to the situation.