Explosion at steel plant in Turkey kills 16, president says
Officials say a crane collapse during liquid steel casting sparked the blast and fire, leaving 16 dead and search teams still working.
- On Monday, November 9, 2026, an overhead crane toppled into a furnace at the HABAŞ iron and steel plant in Aliağa, İzmir, sparking a massive explosion and fire that killed 6 workers and left 8 missing.
- The incident occurred around midday when a ceiling crane snapped during liquid steel casting and fell into an arc furnace. Established in 1987, the HABAŞ facility produces 4.5 million tons of steel annually, underscoring the scale of industrial operations at the site.
- Emergency teams continue removing debris to reach trapped workers. Witness Nuri Ali Ulker described the blast as "very intense," saying "I thought it was an earthquake" as the ground shook from the explosion's force.
- Justice Minister Akin Gurlek assigned 4 public prosecutors to investigate the incident. Union spokesperson Oktay Turk condemned the disaster as a "massacre," demanding justice and calling for accountability for those responsible.
- The tragedy follows two other recent worker deaths at the HABAŞ site, intensifying safety concerns. Nationally, at least 1,736 workers died in Turkey during the first 9 months of 2026, reflecting systemic workplace risks across industries.
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PM Shehbaz expresses condolences over deadly explosion at Turkish steel plant
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in an explosion at an iron and steel plant in Aliaga, Izmir, Türkiye, and conveyed his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The explosion occurred when a crane that was hoisting a boiler collapsed over a large industrial furnace, causing a large fire.
Initially, 16 deaths were reported, but then Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu raised the number to 17 because one of the critically injured died.
Deadly accident in a steel plant in western Turkey: At least 17 people were killed in an explosion. Twelve more people were injured in the incident.
An explosion at the HABAŞ steel plant in Izmir killed 17 people and injured 12 others. Six people were detained as part of an investigation into the incident.
A worker told the news agency AFP that the crane dropped a huge container of melted steel, investigating the Turkish authorities.
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