ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 12 people were killed on Tuesday after a blast at an explosives factory in Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province, state media reported.
The blast occurred at the Merkez Karesi district of Balikesir, at the factory’s capsule production unit.
“An explosion occurred at the ZSR Explosive Production Facility. After the explosion in the section where capsule production takes place, the building collapsed. All our teams are currently on-site,” Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu told state media Anadolu Agency (AA).
“We have received information that 12 of our citizens lost their lives in the explosion at the factory in Karesi district,” he added.
Turkish health minister Kemal Memisoglu said that five individuals got injured in the explosion. They were hospitalized and are in stable condition.
Several ambulances and emergency teams were dispatched, and efforts are ongoing to determine the number of people inside the factory during the blast, Ustaoglu said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X that he has instructed relevant authorities to carry out "necessary investigation immediately."
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
Updated at 12:13 pm
