Key points

  • At least 16 people lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries in a blast at a steel plant near Izmir, according to Al Jazeera and AFP.
  • The disaster occurred when an overhead crane collapsed into an industrial furnace during boiler replacement work, Izmir’s governor stated.
  • President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a formal investigation into the incident, as reported by state and international media.

An industrial disaster in western Turkiye left communities in shock after a heavy crane plunged into a melting furnace, sparking a lethal explosion at a steel manufacturing facility near Izmir, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu.

Key details

The incident took place at 11:46am local time on Monday at the HABAS factory situated in Aliaga, roughly 60 kilometres north of Izmir on the Aegean Sea, according to AFP and Anadolu reports. Al Jazeera and AFP confirmed that the blast claimed 16 lives and left 13 people injured, with two of the wounded described as being in serious condition.

According to Izmir’s governor, the explosion happened when an overhead crane fell into a large industrial furnace while workers were replacing a boiler. Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay stated that the full casualty count would remain uncertain until emergency crews cleared the debris. An eyewitness, Deniz Ulker, described the terrifying impact to reporters, noting that the blast felt like an earthquake and sent thick black smoke billowing from the chimney.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that an official investigation has been launched. Meanwhile, workers' groups and the Izmir chapter of Turkiye’s Labour Party raised serious safety concerns on social media, claiming the facility had a history of fatal incidents and inadequate maintenance standards over the past decade.

Context and impact

The disaster drew international attention, with condolences sent from global partners including the European Union and Azerbaijan, according to Al Jazeera.

Summary and what next

Authorities indicated that search and clearance operations remain ongoing to determine the full extent of the tragedy. The official findings of the presidential investigation are expected to follow once safety inspections conclude.