A blast ripped through an explosives factory in northwest Turkey on Tuesday, killing 11 people and injuring seven, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. He added that an investigation had been launched regarding the blast.
Yerlikaya said that an initial death count of 12 people had been announced mistakenly and that in fact 11 people had been killed as a result of the incident.
Seven others were getting treatment at nearby hospitals for non-life threatening injuries, he said.
“The cause of the fire is being investigated thoroughly; no suspicion of sabotage in this incident,” Yerlikaya said, speaking outside the manufacturing facility.
Balikesir Blast
Footage from the scene showed a fireball and smoke rising from the factory building at the time of the blast, as well as the mangled metal framework of the building in the aftermath.
The explosion occurred at a factory in the village of Kavakli in Balikesir province.
An industrial facility manufactures military equipment such as ammunition, explosives, and flares for both domestic and international markets. Eyewitness accounts depict the aftermath as resembling a warzone.
Yerlikaya said that the cause was not yet clear, but that authorities had ruled out sabotage.
Investigations Underway
Security personnel have cordoned off the area, restricting access to civilians and media outlets, to mitigate the risk of a potential secondary blast.
Many fire crews were sent to deal with the blaze and health and security units were dispatched to the area while an investigation was launched, the government’s communications directorate said.
As per a BBC Report, the blast happened at 08:25 local time (05:25 GMT) in the capsule production section, the governor of the city of Balikesir, Ismail Ustaoglu, said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to X, to express his sadness over the tragedy. He wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the death of 12 brothers.” He added that he had been briefed by relevant institutions and instructed that “a comprehensive investigation be initiated immediately.”
(with inputs from Reuters)
