Explosion at munitions factory in Türkiye leaves twelve workers dead and five injured

At least twelve workers have died this Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and another five have been injured in the explosion at an ammunition factory in Turkey, the causes of which are unknown, although The authorities have ruled out that it was an attack.

“There are no suspicions of sabotage. The factory has been producing explosives for a long time. The injured workers are hospitalized”Ahmet Akin, the mayor of Balikesir, the town in the province of the same name where the detonation occurred, told the media.

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The explosion occurred around 8:25 a.m. local time at a facility in the western province of Balikesir, where a fire subsequently broke out.

Preliminary balance

The Ministry of the Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, has indicated that 12 people have died and another five have been injured in the explosion and stated that the reasons for the explosion are currently unknown. “We’re trying to find what caused it,” he said.

The Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into the incident.

The governor of Balikesir, Ismail Ustaoglu, told NTV broadcaster that the explosion occurred in the encapsulation section of the factory of the private company Zsr, and that the building later collapsed.

Rescue teams are trying to access the facilities, the media reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was “deeply saddened by the death of 12 brothers” in a message on the social network X.

The president said he had given instructions for “the necessary investigation to begin immediately in all aspects.”

Türkiye has become a major exporter of defense material, especially drones, and Erdogan is one of the main defenders of this industry.

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