A local official reported that the explosion’s force caused tremors in a nearby village.
Governor Ismail Ustaoglu confirmed that a blast at an explosives factory in Balikesir province, Turkey, resulted in at least 12 fatalities and three injuries.
CNN Turk reported that the explosion at a Karesi district facility occurred around 8:25 am local time on Tuesday.
Ustaoglu informed the broadcaster that the blast caused partial collapse of one factory building, while others remained intact.
“I want to emphasize that there was no sabotage. We suspect a technical malfunction, but a thorough investigation will clarify the cause,” the governor stated.
Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation released a statement urging the public to rely solely on official sources for information about the blast and to avoid “crediting unfounded claims.”
A nearby settlement’s head told CNN Turk the explosion was powerful enough to generate tremors felt in the village.
‘de patlayıcı üreten bir fabrikada meydana geldi. 12 kişi hayatını kaybetti! 12 can, 12 insan, 12 baba. Sorumlular kimler? Kimlerin ihmali var? Bu sorulara cevap arıyoruz! Ölenlere rahmet olsun! 🙏
— Cemil Çiçek (@avcemilcicek06)
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced the commencement of an investigation led by four public prosecutors under a deputy chief prosecutor’s supervision.
The affected facility, established in 2014 according to Turkish media, manufactures light weapons munitions for both domestic and international markets.