At least 16 people were killed in an explosion at an iron and steel plant in Aliaga, in Turkey's Izmir province, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said. Thirteen workers were injured, including two seriously. The scale of the disaster demands more than a quick technical account: the investigation needs to establish how the failure occurred and whether safety duties were breached.
Izmir's governor's office said an overhead crane broke during a casting process and fell into an industrial furnace. The blast also caused a fire at the Habas group's site in Aliaga, about 60 kilometres north of Izmir. Rescue teams continued searching for people buried under debris; the report said it was unclear whether anyone remained trapped.
Erdoğan said an investigation had begun and would also examine possible negligence. That is the necessary focus, but it is not a finding of responsibility. The crane fall describes the reported sequence so far. It does not answer whether maintenance, technical inspections, work procedures or oversight contributed to the disaster.
Der Spiegel also reported that worker organisations have alleged long-running safety problems at the plant. According to the report, the opposition-leaning newspaper Cumhuriyet said a 20-year-old worker at a subcontractor had died earlier in November, while Evrensel reported at least 11 workplace deaths at the factory over the past decade. Those reports add weight to the need for a thorough inquiry, but they are not an official determination of causes or liability.
Habas did not comment when contacted by AFP, according to Der Spiegel. The crucial next test is whether investigators set out the technical sequence, workplace safeguards and any failures clearly. With at least 16 deaths, the inquiry cannot stop at saying that a crane broke.
Sources
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-09
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-09