Nov 9, 9:01 PM
At least 16 killed in crane collapse and explosion at Turkish steel plant
A crane collapse into an electric arc furnace triggered a fatal blast and fire at a major facility near Izmir.
An explosion at an iron and steel plant near the western Turkish city of Izmir killed at least 16 workers and injured 13 others on Monday. The incident occurred around midday during scheduled maintenance operations at the Habas facility in the coastal district of Aliaga.
According to Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban, the blast occurred when a crane carrying a replacement boiler collapsed, dropping heavy components into an electric arc furnace below. The impact triggered a major explosion and a fire inside the facility, sending a dense column of smoke over the industrial zone. Eyewitnesses in the surrounding area reported that the detonation shook the ground, leading some to initially mistake the blast for an earthquake.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as search and rescue operations were initiated to locate personnel inside the damaged structure. Governor Elban stated to reporters that authorities believed several people remained trapped beneath the rubble. Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the death toll and stated that two of the hospitalized workers remained in serious condition. President Erdoğan added that official investigations into the cause of the disaster were already under way.
Following the initial findings, law enforcement authorities placed at least five people under arrest, according to Turkish media outlets. The Habas complex in Aliaga forms a central part of the region's industrial sector, which hosts major steel manufacturing plants and shipbreaking operations near the Aegean port.
The Turkish Health and Safety Labor Watch, an independent civil society organisation monitoring working conditions, noted following the blast that occupational accidents remain a chronic issue across Turkish heavy industry. Search and recovery teams continue to work at the Aliaga plant alongside investigators assessing the structural safety of the site.
Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com
