A massive blast at an explosives factory in Turkiye on Tuesday killed at least 12 people. As many as four people were injured in the incident. Turkiye Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters that a probe had been ordered to find out the cause of the explosion.
At least 12 people were killed after an explosion at a factory producing explosives in northwest Turkey’s Balikesir on Tuesday morning
📽️: Anadolu Agency pic.twitter.com/fMiy7BRh1t
— The New Region (@thenewregion) December 24, 2024
Officials have dismissed the possibility of sabotage, as reported by CNN Turk.
The blast caused the collapse of a building, the government confirmed. Expressing his grief, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared his condolences on the social media platform X.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of 12 of our brothers,” he wrote. “May God grant mercy to the deceased, patience to their loved ones, and a swift recovery to the injured. My heartfelt condolences to Balikesir and our nation.”
Balıkesir’imizin Karesi ilçesindeki bir mühimmat fabrikasında meydana gelen patlama sonucu 12 kardeşimizin hayatını kaybetmesinden büyük bir üzüntü duydum.
Patlamaya ilişkin Balıkesir Valimiz başta olmak üzere ilgili tüm kurumlarımızdan bilgi alarak tüm yönleriyle gerekli…
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) December 24, 2024
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc also addressed the incident on X, saying that a specialised team of experts in chemical, mechanical, occupational safety, and geophysical engineering, has been tasked with investigating the cause of the explosion. Authorities are continuing efforts to verify the number of individuals present in the building when the incident occurred, CNN Turk reported.
