The incident took place around noon on November 9 at the HABAŞ Demir Çelik facility. According to Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban, the blast triggered a major fire, sending thick clouds of smoke into the sky. Emergency services, including firefighters, medics, and rescuers, were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Casualties and ongoing rescue operations
According to the latest reports, the explosion has caused several fatalities and injuries among the workers at the plant.
Search and rescue teams are continuing their work, as there are concerns that four more people may still be trapped under the debris.
Possible causes and investigation
Preliminary information from the Izmir provincial administration suggests that a bridge crane may have snapped during the pouring of molten steel, falling into an electric arc furnace and causing the blast. However, HABAŞ representatives stated that the explosion occurred during planned technical maintenance of the electric furnace.
Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that the prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the tragedy, appointing four prosecutors to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
What we know
- The explosion occurred during molten steel pouring or planned maintenance
- A large fire broke out at the HABAŞ plant
- Four prosecutors have been assigned to the investigation
What is not yet known
- The exact cause of the crane failure or explosion
- The total scale of material damage
