A fatality caused by a Takata airbag was reported in the occupied areas 1.5 years ago, according to the “president” of the “chamber of mechanical engineers,” Ayer Yarkiner. He made the statement in light of discussions about the issue in the free areas and criticised the “government” for having done nothing during this time, accusing it of remaining a “spectator.”
According to reports from the occupied areas, Ayer Yarkiner, speaking on an online programme of Kibris Postasi, stated that the model with the faulty Takata airbags is also present in the occupied areas and criticised the lack of necessary checks on second-hand vehicles in the pseudo-state.
The “chamber,” he added, had issued a written warning about the issue two years ago. “1.5 years ago, a person died due to the Takata airbag problem. The police requested a report from us, and in this report, we detailed the issue. However, the government took no measures to inform vehicle representatives in writing or to seek technical support from us. It remained a spectator,” he said.
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Yarkiner further stated that a request from the “chamber” a year ago to provide support services to resolve the issue was never answered by the “government.”
He explained that the main cause of the problem with these airbags is the moisture absorption of the sponge material. “When the ammonium nitrate in the pinion inflates, it increases pressure. This shatters the steel casing and causes the airbag mechanism to eject towards the human body,” he noted.
Yarkiner claimed that the issue has long been resolved in the Greek Cypriot side, with Takata covering the cost of replacing Mazda airbags and Honda following a similar process. He highlighted that airbags in second-hand vehicles need to be inspected and noted that Mazda has no representative in the occupied areas, making vehicle checks for that brand impossible.
He urged residents in the occupied areas to visit a “mechanical engineer” and have their vehicle airbags inspected. “Demand a solution from the company where you purchased the vehicle,” he advised.
He added that 40–45 people lose their lives each year in road accidents in the occupied areas. “Serious measures must be taken going forward, and airbag inspections must become mandatory to prevent potential accidents,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
