site.btaUPDATED 11 People Die in Blast at Explosives Factory in Northwest Turkiye

11 people were killed, and seven were injured on Tuesday in an blast at an explosives factory in Balikesir, Northwest Turkiye, Turkish authorities reported, cited by international news agencies and local media outlets.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya corrected earlier reports and announced that the number of fatalities in the explosion that rocked the factory is 11, TRT Haber reported.

'After the autopsies, it was revealed that the (deceased) are actually 11, not 12,' Yerlikaya said.

There are 7 injured, and their lives are not in danger.

Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu clarified that the explosion occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. local time due to a "technical malfunction" and there is no indication of sabotage. According to Turkish authorities, the factory where the explosion took place manufactures ammunition and explosives for civilian purposes.

The injured employees have been hospitalized, and their condition is not concerning, Ustaoglu said in an interview with Turkish TV channel NTV.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences for the victims.

"We will conduct the necessary investigation in all its aspects, receiving information from all relevant institutions, starting with the governor. We have instructed that an investigation into the causes be initiated immediately," Erdogan said, as quoted by Milliyet newspaper.

The explosion occurred in the explosives production workshop. At the time of the explosion, 16 workers were in the workshop, Ustaoglu clarified, quoted by Son Haberler.

Fire trucks, ambulances, and rescue teams have been sent to the scene of the incident.

"Cooling of the production facilities has begun. There is no likelihood of the fire spreading over a large area. The roof of the factory has collapsed," said the local governor.

"We were shaken as if by an earthquake. The windows trembled, and then we saw a fireball. Part of the factory was destroyed," eyewitnesses said.

Turkish Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunç stated in an interview with state television TRT Haber that an investigation into the incident has been launched. According to the Super Haber website, one day before the explosion, the company responsible for the security operations at the site was replaced by a new security company from the city of Izmir.

The Center for Countering Disinformation at the Directorate of Communications published a statement on its social media profile on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens not to trust unfounded claims.