Izmir:At least 16 people were killed and 13 others injured, including two seriously, in an explosion at a steel plant in western T¼rkiye on Monday, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Anadolu Agency, judicial and administrative investigations have been initiated to determine the cause of the explosion in Izmir's Aliaga district and to identify those responsible.

Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban reported that the explosion occurred at around 1146 am local time at the HABAS Iron and Steel Plant during furnace replacement work. The incident was triggered by a ceiling crane collapse, which caused materials to fall into an electric arc furnace, damaging a natural gas line and causing the explosion.

Governor Elban initially reported 10 fatalities and 15 injuries, including four workers in serious condition. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with four people believed to be trapped beneath the debris. At the time of the explosion, approximately 200 workers were present at the facility, compared to over 300 during regular production shifts. No arrests have been made, and investigations continue.

Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Isikhan and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar are traveling to the region, while Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu is also expected to visit Izmir.