Ankara: A massive explosion at the ‘HABAS’ steel plant in the Izmir province of western Turkey has left 17 workers dead and several others seriously injured. The tragic incident occurred at the HABAS iron and steel manufacturing facility in the Aliağa district, located approximately 60 kilometers north of the port city of Izmir. Although it was initially reported that 16 people had died, the death toll has risen to 17 following the passing of another critically injured worker in the hospital.
Tragedy During Boiler Replacement:
The incident took place during an operation to replace a boiler as part of the molten steel casting process. A large crane collapsed and fell onto a major industrial furnace. According to an eyewitness, a worker named Yasin Çetiner, a crane cable snapped, causing approximately 120 tons of molten steel to spill onto the furnace. The contact between the water-cooled panels inside the furnace and the molten steel triggered a massive ‘hydrogen explosion.’ “The entire area experienced tremors. The factory roof was burning, with molten material flowing like water. It looked literally like an apocalypse,” described another eyewitness, Deniz Ülker.
Public outrage has erupted over safety lapses at the factory. A man who lost his brother in the tragedy staged a protest by setting himself on fire outside the factory; bystanders immediately rushed him to the hospital.
Police arrested two representatives of the ‘Aegean Workers Collective’ in front of the hospital as they attempted to issue a statement condemning the safety failures. Oktay Türk, a spokesperson for the organization, alleged that “the greed for profit by the Habash management is the cause of this massive tragedy.”
Over the last 10 years, 11 workers have lost their lives at this single factory. Media reports indicate that this is the third major, horrific accident to occur within the last three weeks.