By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and four injured following an explosion at an ammunition factory in northwestern Turkey, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday in the village of Kavaklı, located in Balıkesir Province, sending a fireball into the sky and blanketing the area in thick smoke, as captured in footage by CNN Türk.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “I pray to God to have mercy on my deceased brothers, [to] offer my condolences to their families, and wish a speedy recovery to our injured. My condolences to Balıkesir and our nation.”
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc also announced on X that a team of experts, including chemical, mechanical, occupational safety, and geophysical engineers, had been tasked with investigating the cause of the explosion.
Images circulating online reveal the factory reduced to a charred metal framework, with much of the structure severely damaged by the blast.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and medical teams, were swiftly deployed to contain the fire and provide aid to victims, according to Turkey’s communications directorate. Security forces also secured the area and are assisting with the investigation.
“At this stage, we have no reason to suspect foul play,” the provincial governor stated, ruling out the possibility of sabotage.
