Explosion at Turkish steel plant sparks fire amid injury reports

An explosion and fire at the HABAŞ steel plant in Aliağa, near İzmir in western Türkiye, killed at least 17 workers and injured 12 or 13 others, according to reports. Officials said the incident occurred during scheduled maintenance when an overhead crane involved in replacing a boiler fell into an electric arc furnace; investigators are examining the precise cause and whether negligence was involved. Rescue crews continued clearing debris, and five people were reportedly detained as prosecutors investigated. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered investigations, while workers’ groups raised concerns about the plant’s safety record and workplace accident risks in Türkiye.