The accidental explosion in a steel factory near Smyrna in western Turkey caused 16 deaths and 13 injuries, according to the latest report released by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
© Servet Ulku/Anadolu via Getty Images
09/11/2026
by
Lusa
A accidental explosion in a steel factory near the port city of Smyrna in western Turkey today caused 16 deaths and 13 injuries, according to the latest report of the incident announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“ The circumstances of this tragic incident [...], in particular the reasons why it occurred, the possible existence of negligence and the identification of those responsible, will be ascertained”, said the Turkish Head of State on television, adding that two of the injured are in a “very serious state”.
Previous balances, advanced by the governor of the province of Smyrna, Suleyman Elban, accounted, first, for six dead and then for 10, following a strong explosion, followed by fire, which took place today in a steel plant in Aliaga, located 60 kilometers north of Smyrna.
“ Search and rescue operations in the area are about to be completed for the most part. However, given the large extent of the site and the high amount of material scattered, the work is still going on in a thorough manner,” Elban said, admitting that there are more workers under the rubble of the building.
The governor of Smyrna admitted that the number of deaths could be higher, since, although they usually work in that area of the steel industry about 300 people, today there were fewer employees on site, due to maintenance and replacement of equipment.
The explosion occurred at 12:00 locals (09:00 in Lisbon), and the governor explained that it was caused by the fall of construction material on a gas pipeline, which was being moved by a crane.
The accident at the Habas Demir Celik factory in Aliaga initially pointed to the crane's fall on an electric furnace during casting operations of cast steel.