According to a BBC report, the explosion occurred around midday on Monday at the Habaş Demir Çelik steel plant in the Aliaga district of Izmir. The company is one of Turkey’s major steel producers and operates in an important industrial area known for its port facilities, heavy industry and ship-breaking activities.
The explosion reportedly happened while workers were moving a new boiler using a crane. Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban said the crane collapsed during the operation, causing equipment attached to it to fall into a furnace below. A powerful explosion followed, triggering a major fire inside the factory.
Footage from the scene showed flames spreading through the industrial facility, with enormous clouds of smoke rising into the sky. The scale of the incident highlighted the severity of the damage and the dangers faced by workers during heavy industrial operations.
Witnesses described a powerful blast that shook the surrounding area. One person reportedly initially thought an earthquake had occurred because of the intensity of the explosion. Panic spread as workers and nearby residents became aware of the fire and the extent of the damage.
In a statement, the company operating the factory said the accident occurred during scheduled maintenance work on one of its electric arc furnaces. Such furnaces are widely used in steel production to melt metal at extremely high temperatures. Maintenance work involving heavy machinery and equipment in their vicinity requires strict safety procedures, as any mechanical failure can have serious consequences.
The death toll initially stood at 16. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the casualties after a Cabinet meeting on Monday and said an investigation was under way, with rescue operations continuing.
However, the toll later rose to 17 after Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced that one of the seriously injured workers had died while receiving medical treatment. A further 12 people were reported injured in the incident.
Governor Elban told the media that several people might still be trapped beneath the debris. Rescue teams were therefore continuing their search of the damaged facility, amid concerns that the number of casualties could change as the operation progressed.
The incident has also raised questions about workplace safety in Turkey’s industrial sector. According to the independent organisation Turkish Health and Safety Labour Watch, occupational accidents have remained a longstanding problem in the country.
Industrial facilities such as steel plants involve considerable risks, particularly during maintenance operations, the movement of heavy equipment and work around high-temperature furnaces. Crane failures, equipment malfunctions and lapses in safety procedures can lead to catastrophic consequences. The investigation is expected to establish precisely what went wrong during the boiler-moving operation and whether any safety regulations were breached.
Meanwhile, the Turkish-language service of the BBC reported, citing local media, that at least five people had been arrested in connection with the incident. Authorities have yet to provide detailed public information about the specific allegations against those detained.
The Habaş steel plant is located in Aliaga, a strategically important industrial and maritime district in Izmir. The area is home to a major port and is one of Turkey’s principal centres for ship-breaking, alongside other heavy industrial activities. Its industrial importance makes workplace safety particularly significant for the large workforce employed in the region.
The deadly explosion has once again brought the risks associated with industrial maintenance and worker protection into focus. Investigators will now seek to determine whether the crane’s collapse, the handling of the equipment or any shortcomings in safety arrangements contributed to the disaster.
For the families of those killed and injured, the immediate concern remains the human cost of the tragedy. Rescue efforts, medical treatment and the investigation into the cause of the explosion are continuing under the supervision of the relevant authorities.
