Explosion at Turkish steel plant kills at least 16 workers

Emergency services responded to the explosion at the Habas Demir Celik steelworks in Aliaga, a coastal town in Izmir Province, as rescue operations began to locate survivors and account for workers present at the time of the incident.

Eyewitnesses described the force of the blast as severe enough to shake the ground across the surrounding area. Several people reported experiencing tremors so intense they initially believed an earthquake had struck the region, according to accounts from those near the facility.

The Habas Demir Celik plant is a significant industrial operation in the Aliaga area, which hosts numerous manufacturing and refining facilities. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion as rescue and recovery efforts continue at the site.

Officials did not immediately release information regarding the exact cause of the blast or whether additional casualties might be discovered during ongoing search operations.