Fatal Blast at Turkish Explosives Factory Claims 12 Lives

International news section  24-12-2024

Explosion at Munitions Facility in Balikesir Province Leaves Four Injured

A devastating explosion at an explosives factory in northwest Türkiye has resulted in the deaths of 12 workers and injured four others, officials have confirmed.

The incident took place in the village of Kavaklı, located in Balikesir province.

“Preliminary reports indicate that 12 employees lost their lives, and four others sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital,” stated Balikesir Governor İsmail Ustaoglu.

Authorities Dismiss Sabotage Claims

Local media footage revealed debris, including shards of glass and metal, scattered around the site as emergency services and ambulances responded to the scene.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced an ongoing investigation into the explosion, which occurred during the early morning hours. He confirmed the casualty count but noted that the cause of the incident remains undetermined. Authorities have ruled out sabotage, with Yerlikaya stating, “We are working to uncover the exact cause.”

The explosion struck at 8:25 AM local time (05:25 GMT), during a shift change, according to Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul. The affected section of the plant, where bullet casings are manufactured, suffered a complete collapse due to the blast.

The power outage caused by the explosion has hindered rescue efforts, prompting officials to conduct manual searches for potential survivors. Firefighters were deployed to control the resulting blaze, while health and security teams were also dispatched to the area.

The factory specializes in producing munitions, explosives, and flares for both domestic and international markets.

Türkiye has emerged as a significant defense exporter, particularly in the field of drones, under the strong advocacy of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

This tragedy follows a similar incident two months prior, when an attack on a state-owned defense company near Ankara left five dead and 22 injured. The attack was claimed by the outlawed PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party), leading Türkiye to launch operations against PKK targets in Iraq and Syria.