17 Killed in Explosion at Turkish Steel Factory

At least 17 workers have been killed and 12 others injured in a massive explosion at an iron and steel plant in western Turkey. The blast occurred after a crane collapsed while a new boiler was being moved, causing equipment attached to it to fall into a furnace.

The accident took place on Monday (November 9) at the Habaş Demir Çelik steel plant in the Aliağa district, near the western port city of Izmir.

Authorities said all those killed and injured were workers at the factory, which is one of Turkey’s major steel producers.

Videos from the scene showed a large fire inside the plant and thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

The local governor said the explosion occurred around midday while workers were using a crane to move a new boiler. The crane collapsed, sending equipment attached to it into a furnace below and triggering the blast.

Turkey's independent Health and Safety Labour Watch said workplace accidents have long been a major problem in the country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially put the death toll at 16 after a Cabinet meeting on Monday. However, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu later confirmed that one of the seriously injured workers had died while receiving treatment, raising the toll to 17.

Witnesses said the explosion shook the surrounding area. One person initially thought an earthquake had occurred.

The company operating the plant said in a statement that the accident happened during scheduled maintenance work on one of the factory's electric arc furnaces.

Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban said several people might still be trapped beneath the debris.

Erdoğan confirmed the casualties after a Cabinet meeting on Monday and said an investigation was under way while rescue operations continued.

At least five people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident, according to local media reports cited by the BBC's Turkish service.

The Habaş plant is located in Izmir's Aliağa district, an important port area and one of Turkey's major shipbreaking centres.