Turkey factory explosion kills 17 workers, injures 12 in Western Izmir
At least 17 people have been killed and 12 others injured following an explosion at an iron and steel factory near the port city of Izmir in western Turkey.
Authorities said all the victims were workers at the Habas Demir Celik plant in Aliaga, one of Turkey’s major steel producers. Footage from the scene showed a massive fire engulfing part of the facility, with a thick column of smoke billowing into the sky.
The local governor said the explosion occurred around midday after a crane transporting a replacement boiler collapsed, sending materials into a furnace below.
Workplace accidents remain a persistent challenge in Turkey, according to the independent civil society organisation Turkish Health and Safety Labor Watch.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially confirmed 16 deaths. However, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu later announced that another worker, who had sustained critical injuries, had died, raising the death toll to 17.
Witnesses said the explosion was powerful enough to shake the ground, with one person initially mistaking it for an earthquake.
In a statement, the company operating the factory said the incident happened during planned maintenance work on one of its electric arc furnaces.
Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban told the media that some people were feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Erdoğan confirmed the fatalities and said investigations had been launched, while search and rescue operations were ongoing.
At least five people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident, according to BBC News’s Turkish service, citing local media reports.
The Habas facility is located in Aliaga, a district of Izmir known for its major port and as one of Turkey’s principal shipbreaking centres.
About The Author
