Skip to main content

12 killed in blast at Turkiye explosives plant

By
12 killed in blast at Turkiye explosives plant
A powerful blast ripped through an explosives plant in northwestern Turkiye on Tuesday killing 12 people and injuring five others, officials said.

Footage showed shards of glass and metal scattered outside the plant, where ambulances stood by.

“According to initial reports, 12 employees died and four were taken to hospital with injuries as a result of the explosion” in the Karesi district of Balikesir province, local governor Ismail Ustaoglu said.

“I wish God’s mercy upon our deceased citizens and a speedy recovery to our wounded,” he added.

Officials later revised the number of the injured as five and added they were not in a serious condition.

There were no staff members left inside the factory and the blaze was put out, they added.

The blast took place at 8:25am (0525 GMT) at a section of the plant which local officials said collapsed under the force of the explosion.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the cause of the blast at the factory, which is located away from residential areas, was not immediately known.

“We are trying to find out what caused it,” he said.

Local officials pointed to “technical reasons” without elaborating as experts were still investigating at the scene.

Authorities ruled out sabotage and prosecutors have launched a thorough investigation.

‘Battlefield’

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “deeply saddened by the death of 12 brothers,” in a message on social platform X.

He said he was briefed by all relevant institutions soon after the blast and instructed that “the necessary investigation be initiated immediately in all aspects”.

The plant, located in the north of Balikesir, makes munitions, explosives and flares for the domestic and international markets.

Witnesses told local media that part of the building was “like a battlefield”.

The bodies of the dead were due to be carried to the morgue.

Security forces took measures in case of a second blast.

Civilians and members of the press were not allowed nearby.

Turkiye has become a major defence exporter, particularly for drones, with Erdogan a major supporter of the industry.

In 2020, an explosion at a fireworks factory in northwestern Turkiye killed seven people and injured 127 others.

In 2023, a blast at a military explosives factory killed five people. That factory — some 40 kilometres east of the capital Ankara, was part of Turkiye’s defence ministry.

 

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Army chief assures business community of ‘complete support’ for economic uplift

By Admin
Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday assured the business community of the army’s “complete support” for the economic uplift of the country. He made this assurance during a meeting with businessmen who called on him at the General Headquarters today, according to a statement by the military’s media affairs wing. A delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the army chief discussed the “evolving regional economic environment” as well as the FPCCI’s role in the development of commercial and industrial hubs in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. During the meeting, Gen Bajwa appreciated the role of the business community in the economic uplift of the country and affirmed all-out support of the army in this regard. The delegation, meanwhile, acknowledged the Pakistan Army’s role and sacrifices in the provision of a "secure enabling environment" for economic prosperity in the country, acco...
Post a Comment
Read more

3rd U-19 Women T20: South Africa beat Pakistan by 52 runs

By
In the third T20 of the five-match series in Karachi, South Africa Under-19 women's team defeated Pakistan Under-19 women's team by 52 runs tonight. Batting first, South Africa Under-19 women's team scored 158 runs for the loss of six wickets in allotted 20 overs. In reply, Pakistan Under-19 women's team were all out for 106 runs in 18 overs. South Africa lead the series 2-1.
Post a Comment
Read more

IRGC says armed forces prepared for all scenarios amid heightened military readiness

By
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran's armed forces are better prepared than before and are fully ready for any future contingency, asserting that any return by the enemy to military aggression will be met with different operational approaches. Spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi credited both existing capabilities and experience gained through direct confrontation with the enemy for the enhanced position, Fars News Agency reported on Tuesday. "If the enemy returns to the military arena, the nature of the operations, the geography of the battlefield, and even the types of weapons used will be different," he said. "The IRGC is fully prepared for all possible scenarios." 'Capabilities increased during ceasefire' The IRGC official also said Iran has used the ceasefire period to strengthen its military readiness and repair damage. "The reality is that during the ceasefire period, our military and operational capabilities inc...
Post a Comment
Read more