An explosive incident has occurred at an munitions facility in northwestern Turkey, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals and injuring seven more, according to officials.
Video footage captured shards of glass and debris strewn around the site, where ambulances were on standby.
“Regrettably, there are 11 fatalities… consisting of eight women and three men. We also have seven individuals injured,” stated Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, at the site.
He mentioned that two of the injured are currently “under observation” in the hospital.
Officials confirmed that no employees were present inside the factory at the time of the explosion, and the fire has since been extinguished.
The explosion occurred at 8:25 AM local time (5:25 AM Irish time) in a section of the plant that local officials indicated had collapsed due to the blast’s intensity.
Interior Minister Yerlikaya noted that the reason for the explosion, which took place at a site distanced from residential areas, remains unclear.
“We are working to determine the cause,” he stated.
Local officials suggested “technical reasons” for the explosion, although they did not provide further details while experts continued their investigation at the location.
Authorities have dismissed the possibility of sabotage, and prosecutors have initiated a comprehensive inquiry.
The facility, located in northern Balikesir, specializes in producing munitions, explosives, and flares for both domestic and international distribution.
Witnesses described the scene as “resembling a battlefield” in local media reports.
The remains of the deceased are set to be transferred to the morgue.
Security personnel implemented measures to prevent a potential secondary explosion, restricting access for civilians and press members.
Turkey has emerged as a significant exporter of defense products, particularly drones, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan being a strong advocate for the industry.
In 2020, a blast at a fireworks facility in northwestern Turkey resulted in seven deaths and 127 injuries.
In 2023, an explosion at a military explosives factory led to five fatalities.
This particular factory was located approximately 40 km east of the capital, Ankara, and was associated with Turkey’s defense ministry.
