Crane Collapse Triggers Blast at Izmir Steel Plant Killing 16

A crane collapse caused a massive explosion at a steel factory near Izmir on Monday, killing at least 16 people and injuring 13 others. All victims were workers at the Habas plant, a major steel producer located in the Aliaga district. Governor Süleyman Elban stated that a crane carrying a replacement boiler fell, dropping materials into a furnace below around midday. Eyewitnesses reported that the force of the blast shook the ground, leading some to believe an earthquake had occurred. Footage from the scene showed a large fire burning inside the facility and a thick column of smoke rising into the sky.

The company stated that the accident happened during scheduled maintenance on one of the electric arc furnaces. Elban told media outlets that rescue crews are still searching for people believed to be trapped under the rubble. Two of the injured workers are in serious condition. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the deaths during a cabinet meeting on Monday. He said that investigations are currently under way and that search and rescue operations are continuing.

Workplace accidents are a persistent issue in Turkey, according to the Turkish Health and Safety Labor Watch, an independent civil society organization. Local media reports, cited by BBC News's Turkish service, indicate that at least five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. The Habas plant sits in a region that serves as a major port and a key hub for shipbreaking in the country.

The explosion disrupted operations at the facility, which is one of the leading steel producers in Turkey. The Aliaga district, where the plant is located, is a significant industrial area in western Turkey. Officials have not yet released a detailed timeline of the maintenance procedures that were being performed at the time of the collapse.