At least 17 people were killed and 12 injured on Monday when an explosion tore through an iron and steel factory near the port city of Izmir in western Turkey. Authorities said all the victims were workers at the Habas Demir Celik plant in the Aliaga district, one of the country's leading steel producers.
Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said the blast happened around midday after a crane carrying a replacement boiler collapsed, sending materials into a furnace below. The company said the accident occurred during scheduled maintenance on one of the plant's electric arc furnaces. The governor said some people were believed to still be trapped under rubble.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initially put the death toll at 16, but Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu later said one of the critically injured had died. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said investigations were under way as search and rescue work continued. At least five people have been arrested, according to local media.
Witnesses said the blast shook the ground, with some mistaking it for an earthquake, while footage showed a large fire and a towering column of smoke. Workplace accidents remain a chronic problem in Turkey.