A massive explosion at a steel factory in western Turkey has killed 16 people and injured 13 others, prompting investigations into the cause of the industrial disaster.
The explosion occurred on Monday, November 9, at the HABAS Demir Celik steel plant in Aliaga, approximately 60 kilometres north of the port city of Izmir.
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, confirmed the casualties and ordered investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said eight workers were initially trapped following the explosion, which occurred around midday local time.
Footage circulating online showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky as flames engulfed part of the industrial facility.
Two of the injured workers were reported to be in serious condition.
Overhead Crane Collapse Triggered Explosion
According to Governor Elban, the explosion was triggered by the collapse of an overhead crane into an industrial furnace used in the production of liquid steel.
He explained that workers were carrying out a boiler replacement operation when the crane fell into an electric-powered arc furnace, triggering the blast.
An eyewitness, Deniz Ulker, described the incident as resembling an earthquake, while another witness, Turan Ilbay, a truck driver at the factory, said it sounded like a bomb had exploded.
Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay said rescue teams were working to remove the collapsed platform and assist those affected by the disaster.
Workers Raise Safety Concerns
The explosion has renewed concerns about workplace safety at the HABAS steel plant, with workers’ groups alleging a history of industrial accidents at the facility.
According to the Turkish newspaper Evrensel, at least 11 workers had died at the factory over the preceding decade.
Turkey’s Labour Party also claimed the latest incident was the third worker fatality-related accident at the facility in three weeks.
The party cited the death of a worker who reportedly fell eight metres from a ladder on October 21, as well as another worker who died when a tyre he was inflating on construction equipment exploded.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Aegean Workers’ Collective were reportedly arrested outside the hospital while attempting to speak about workplace safety concerns, according to a group spokesman.
The group’s spokesman, Oktay Turk, accused the factory’s management of prioritising profits over workers’ safety and called for those responsible to face justice.
The pro-Kurdish DEM Party also demanded a transparent investigation into the explosion, including possible negligence and failures in workplace supervision.
Erdogan Promises Investigation
President Erdogan said authorities would establish how the explosion happened, whether negligence was involved and who should be held accountable.
HABAS, a privately owned company and one of Turkey’s leading steel producers, declined to respond to questions from an AFP journalist.
Investigations into the incident are expected to determine the full circumstances surrounding the disaster and establish responsibility.
