Blast at Turkish steel plant kills at least 6, injures 12

A large explosion and fire at an iron and steelworks in Aliaga, in Turkey's western Izmir province, killed at least six people and injured 12 others on Monday, according to officials. Provincial Governor Suleyman Elban said in a televised update that two of the injured were in critical condition. Earlier, his office had reported three dead, 14 wounded and 10 missing. Search teams were looking for four workers believed to be trapped under the wreckage. Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay said the exact number of casualties would only be known once the debris is cleared.

The blast occurred around noon local time (0900 GMT) when an overhead crane toppled into a furnace during the casting of liquid steel, the governor's office said. Broadcaster NTV showed images of a large fire inside the facility and a tall column of smoke rising. Witness Nuri Ali Ulker told the state-run Anadolu news agency, "The ground shook. It was very intense." Another witness, Deniz Ulker, said the explosion "felt like the earth's crust was shifting beneath us. I thought it was an earthquake."

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said emergency teams fought the blaze while searching for casualties. "Our injured compatriots have been taken to hospitals and their health is being closely monitored," he posted on social media. An investigation has been launched, and Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said four public prosecutors had been assigned to the case.

The HABAS plant, established in 1987, can produce 4.5 million tons of steel annually, according to the company's website. Aliaga has a large port and is known for shipbreaking, which critics say has caused significant environmental damage and has led to calls to remove its shipbreaking yard from the European Union's list of ship recycling facilities. The disaster came as world leaders and environmental activists gathered in Antalya, on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, for talks on curbing climate change.

According to Mehr News, the cause of the blast is under investigation.