Tragic Explosion at Balıkesir Ammunition Factory: 11 Dead, 7 Injured
Explosion at ammunition factory in Balıkesir: 11 deaths, 7 injured
An explosion rocked an ammunition factory in Balıkesir, resulting in a tragic loss of 11 lives and injuring 7 individuals. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed the casualties and injuries, noting that the injured individuals were receiving treatment and were not in life-threatening conditions. Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, disclosed that 615 workers were on rotating shifts at the factory and emphasized that all inspections had been conducted in August without any issues detected.
The explosion occurred in the capsule production area of the facility, causing a devastating collapse of the building. Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu reported that the incident took place at the ZSR explosive production plant and assured that all necessary teams were on site. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and initiated an immediate investigation into the explosion.
Various teams, including emergency health services, fire brigade, gendarmerie, and police, were dispatched to the scene to provide assistance. Balıkesir Governor Ustaoğlu confirmed that cooling efforts were ongoing and ruled out any possibility of sabotage based on initial assessments. The privately-owned factory, which has been operating for years, produces bullets, cartridges, and detonators of different calibrations.
Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, announced a comprehensive investigation launched by the Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, involving a team of experts to determine the cause of the explosion. The identities of the deceased workers would be established through forensic examinations at the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institute.
Top government officials, including Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya, and President of Defense Industries Haluk Görgün, visited the site to assess the situation and extend condolences to the victims’ families. Minister Yerlikaya expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the intensity of the explosion and providing updates on the casualties and injuries.
The tragedy serves as a reminder of the inherent risks in industrial operations and underscores the importance of stringent safety measures to prevent such catastrophic events. Investigations into the incident will shed light on the circumstances leading to the explosion and help prevent similar accidents in the future.
