Blast at Turkish steel plant kills at least 17

· Politics · Turkey

An explosion at a steel and iron plant in Aliaga, in western Turkey near Izmir, killed at least 17 people and injured others on Monday. The blast occurred when an overhead crane collapsed into a large industrial furnace used in the liquid steel casting process at the Habas Demir Celik facility, according to reports. Eyewitnesses said the explosion shook the ground, with one believing an earthquake had hit. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an investigation after a cabinet meeting. Rescue teams continued searching for people trapped under the rubble, and anger mounted over industrial safety.

Why it matters：One of Turkey's deadliest industrial accidents in years puts pressure on Erdogan's government over workplace safety at a major export industry.

Key points

  • The blast occurred when a crane collapsed into a furnace during steel casting.
  • Erdogan announced an investigation after a cabinet meeting.
  • Rescue teams continued searching for people trapped under rubble.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day