At least 17 people have been killed and 12 others injured in an explosion at a steel factory in Turkey’s western province of Izmir.
According to officials, all those killed and injured were workers at the Habas Steel Plant, which is considered one of the country’s major steel-producing facilities.
Images and videos emerging from the scene showed a fire inside the factory, along with thick clouds of dark smoke rising into the air following the explosion.
Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said the blast occurred when a crane carrying a replacement boiler collapsed, causing the equipment to fall into a furnace below.
Meanwhile, the company said in a statement that the accident took place during routine maintenance work at the plant’s electric arc furnace.
Authorities have expressed concern that some individuals may still be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident has resulted in significant casualties among factory workers, while the exact circumstances surrounding the explosion remain under investigation.
