An explosion and fire at the HABAS steel factory located in Aliaga, the port city of Izmir, Turkey, led to the deaths of 16 workers and injuries to 13 others, two of whom are in critical condition. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, announced the news following a cabinet meeting.
Details of the Incident
The explosion occurred around noon local time (09:00 GMT) when a crane fell into the furnace during the pouring of molten steel. According to officials, the production line was in the process of changing shifts at the time of the incident, with only about 200 workers present, while 300 were expected to be in the factory at that time.
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Reactions and Follow-ups
The governor of Izmir, Suleyman Albey, told reporters at the time of the incident that rescue and search efforts were underway to find individuals who may be trapped under the rubble. Mayor Cemil Tugay also announced in a post on social media platform X that the initial fire had been extinguished after the explosion, but the exact number of casualties and injuries would only be determined after the debris was cleared.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci announced that the injured were transferred to the hospital and their conditions are being closely monitored. Justice Minister Akin Gurel also stated that four public prosecutors have been assigned to follow up on the case.
Eyewitnesses, such as Nuri Ali Ulker, described the intensity of the explosion as very high, stating that the ground shook. Another witness, Deniz Ulker, said the explosion was so strong that he felt the ground moving beneath his feet and mistakenly thought it was an earthquake.
Criticism of the Government
The Turkish Workers' Party (TIP) reacted to the incident by accusing the government of negligence regarding occupational safety and health, describing the incident as "murder in the workplace." Erkan Bas, the leader of TIP, wrote in an online post that "the employer regime has declared war on workers." Additionally, the union president, Basaran Aksu, called for the resignation of the Minister of Labor, claiming that "the blood of workers" is sacrificed for profit.
According to published statistics, 226 work-related fatalities were reported in Turkey in September of this year, reflecting a concerning state of occupational safety in the country.
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