In brief
An explosion at the HABAS iron and steel plant in western Turkey on Nov 9 sent flames and debris into the workplace. Three workers died, 14 were hospitalized, and 10 remain trapped under collapsed structures. Turkish authorities are leading a rescue operation and launching an investigation into the cause, which officials say stemmed from a ceiling crane striking an arc furnace during steel casting.
On Nov. 9 a massive explosion rocked the HABAS iron and steel plant in the Aliaga district of Izmir, killing three workers, injuring 14 and leaving 10 trapped beneath debris.
The blast occurred around 12:00 p.m. local time during a liquid steel casting operation. Initial investigations say a ceiling crane snapped and plunged into an arc furnace, igniting the crash.
Rescue teams are working nonstop to reach the 10 workers whose bodies are stuck in the collapsed hangar. Hospitals are treating the injured, three of whom are in critical condition.
Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said on social media that all relevant state units were rapidly deployed to the scene and are coordinating uninterrupted search, rescue and firefighting operations.
A comprehensive investigation has been launched to determine what triggered the accident and how to prevent future incidents.
