Explosion at a metallurgical plant in Turkey: 17 dead

On November 9, an electric arc furnace exploded at a plant in Izmir province during scheduled maintenance: a crane fell into the furnace and damaged a gas line. 17 people died, five have been detained, and four prosecutors are conducting the investigation.

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 10 November 2026 at 03:042 min read

The key facts

The explosion occurred on November 9 at 11:46 local time during scheduled maintenance, when about 200 employees were on site
According to the Izmir governor, a crane fell into the electric arc furnace and damaged a gas line; a worker described a snapped cable and a spill of about 120 tons of steel
17 dead, five detained, four prosecutors appointed

Explosion during scheduled maintenance

An explosion occurred at a metallurgical plant in Izmir province (Turkey) on November 9 at 11:46 local time, causing a fire and thick smoke over the industrial complex. Aerial footage showed the site surrounded by emergency vehicles, while ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Euronews reported this.

What, according to available information, caused it

Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban stated that during maintenance work, an overhead crane fell into an electric arc furnace, damaged a gas line, and triggered the explosion. One of the workers, speaking to AFP, described a different detail of the same picture: according to him, a snapped crane cable dropped about 120 tons of molten steel into the furnace, provoking a violent reaction. Both explanations agree on the main point — the crane falling into the furnace during maintenance — but differ on the mechanism: the official version points to damage to the gas line, while the witness cites a spill of molten metal.

How many people were on site and what is happening now

About 200 employees were in the affected zone at the time of the explosion — fewer than usual, since production had been suspended for maintenance. According to Euronews, 17 people died. Five people have been detained, and four prosecutors have been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the disaster; rescue teams continue to clear the debris.