In brief
A massive explosion at the HABAS plant in Aliaga, western Turkey, killed three workers and left 14 injured and 10 trapped, as confirmed by the Izmir governor’s office and reported by Xinhua. Rescue teams are actively searching for survivors while Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci tweeted that all state units are on the scene coordinating search, rescue, and firefighting efforts.
A massive blast ripped through the ceiling crane at the HABAS iron and steel plant in Aliaga, western Turkey, killing three workers, injuring 14 others, and trapping 10 beneath collapsed debris, authorities announced Monday, 9 November. The explosion, which the Izmir governor’s office said occurred around 12:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT), was triggered when a ceiling crane snapped and plunged into an arc furnace during liquid steel casting.
Izmir Governor’s Office
According to initial findings, three of our citizens have lost their lives, and a total of 14 citizens have been injured, three of whom are in critical condition.
Emergency vehicles rushed the site as the plant’s operating crew began evacuation efforts. Search and rescue teams are working continuously to reach the workers trapped under the collapsed structures.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci posted on social media that all relevant state units were rapidly deployed to the scene and are coordinating uninterrupted search, rescue and firefighting operations.
The incident has prompted a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the blast, the governor’s office said. Local authorities have reported that the injured have been taken to hospitals for treatment.
The Voice of Emirates, reporting slightly earlier information, noted that the explosion occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time, confirming the death toll and injury figures but adding that the incident was identified as a carbon dioxide factory explosion. The Peterborough Examiner, while tracking the story from afar, echoed the government’s figures and noted the ongoing rescue operations.
All reports are being cross‑checked through PulseWire’s crowdsourced fact‑checking system; eyewitness accounts are still unverified at this time.
