Severe Blast at Turkish Steel Plant Kills 17 and Injures 13

Izmir – A major explosion at the Habas iron and steel facility in Aliaga, located within Izmir province, has killed at least 17 individuals and injured 13 others. The incident occurred on Monday, November 9, 2026, when a crane transporting a replacement boiler collapsed directly into a large industrial furnace utilized for liquid steel casting. The resulting fire caused significant structural damage to the plant. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the casualty figures during a televised address following a scheduled Cabinet meeting. He stated that two of the injured persons were in critical condition. Erdogan emphasized that authorities would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to determine if negligence played a role and to identify those responsible for the failure. According to eyewitness accounts described by local officials, the force of the blast was so intense that it felt like an earthquake. Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay reported via social media platform X that rescue teams were actively working to remove the collapsed platform structure. He clarified that all those affected were factory workers employed at the site. Habas is a privately owned enterprise and ranks among Turkey’s leading steel producers. The company’s website indicates that the plant was established in 1987 and possesses an annual production capacity of 4.5 million tons of steel. Workers' groups have previously highlighted a long record of safety issues at the Habas facility.

This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.