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By Brendan Cole and Yevgeny Kuklychev
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What's New
At least 12 people were killed and three injured in a blast at an explosives factory in the Karesi district of Turkey's Balikesir province on Tuesday, it has been reported.
The blast happened at a section of the ammunition plant that collapsed under the force of the explosion, according to local officials cited by news agencies. Newsweek has contacted the Turkish government for comment by email.
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Why It Matters
Turkish officials were quick to say that there are no indications of sabotage and that an investigation was underway.
But Turkey is a key member of NATO and, in recent years, has become one of the most prolific defense exporters inside the bloc, with its combat drones featuring prominently on the Ukraine front lines at the start of the war with Russia.
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What To Know
The blast happened at 8.25 a.m. at an explosives and ammunition factory located on an area of around 1,000 acres in the Karesi district of Balikesir province in northwest Turkey.
The incident killed at least 12 people and injured at least four people, according to Turkey's Interior Ministry.
Turkish officials said the cause of the blast is not yet known, as photos and videos circulating on social media appeared to show fire engulfing the facility.
But Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu has ruled out the possibility of sabotage, according to preliminary information and said that they were trying to remove the deceased from the area, according to Turkish outlet IHA.<
Turkey's Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said on X that the Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the explosion that took place in the capsule production section of the ammunition factory involving four public prosecutors.
The names of the deceased would be determined following forensic examinations, Tunç added.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted on X that he was "deeply saddened by the death of 12 of our brothers."
What People Are Saying
Erdogan wrote on X: "I pray to God to have mercy on my deceased brothers, offer my condolences to their families, and wish a speedy recovery to our injured."
Tunç wrote on X: "A committee of five experts, including chemical, mechanical, occupational safety and geophysical engineers, was assigned to determine the cause of the explosion."
What Happens Next
Tunç has said that chemical, mechanical, occupational safety and geophysical engineers were among experts tasked with determining the cause of the explosion.
CNN Turk reported that authorities are working to confirm how many people were inside the building at the time of the blast.
Update 12/24/24, 7:15 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
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