17 killed as crane falls into furnace at Turkish steel factory

The disaster occurred around noon at the Habaş Demir Çelik factory in the Aliağa district near the port city of İzmir, reported the BBC. Authorities confirmed that all the victims were employees at the facility, which ranks among Turkey's leading steel manufacturers.

Video footage from the scene showed a massive blaze and thick plumes of smoke rising inside the plant. According to the local governor, the explosion was triggered when a crane attempting to transport a new boiler collapsed, dropping its load and attached machinery directly into an underlying furnace.

Witnesses described a deafening blast that shook the surrounding region, with some initially mistaking the impact for an earthquake. The plant operator stated that the accident occurred during scheduled maintenance on an electric arc furnace.

İzmir Governor Süleyman Elban informed reporters that emergency response teams suspect several individuals may still be trapped beneath the rubble, with search and rescue operations ongoing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially announced 16 fatalities following a cabinet meeting on Monday. However, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu later confirmed that another critically injured worker succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment, bringing the death toll to 17. President Erdoğan affirmed that a full investigation into the incident has been launched.

Local media outlets reported that law enforcement authorities have detained at least five individuals in connection with the workplace disaster. The Turkish Health and Safety Labour Watch noted that industrial accidents remain a persistent critical concern across the nation's manufacturing sector.