Photo: I'm Conqueror / Shutterstock.com An explosion at an iron and steel factory in Aliağa, in Turkey’s İzmir province, has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, according to preliminary information released by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.
Firefighters and rescue teams from the municipality were dispatched to the factory immediately after the explosion. They managed to extinguish the resulting fire, while emergency crews continued working to remove a collapsed platform at the site.
In a statement, the municipality said it had received initial reports of numerous deaths and injuries among workers at the factory. However, the exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed and is expected to become clearer once rescue teams complete the removal of the debris.
The municipality expressed its condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
"We are closely monitoring developments, and our greatest hope is that the death toll will not rise," the statement said.
Rescue and recovery operations remain underway as authorities work to assess the full extent of the damage and establish the final casualty figures.