A devastating explosion at a weapons manufacturing facility in western Turkey has claimed at least 11 lives and left seven individuals injured. The tragedy occurred on Tuesday morning in Balıkesir, a province in Turkey’s Marmara region.
Turkish arms factory blast
The blast originated in a production unit dedicated to explosive materials. The resulting force collapsed one of the main production buildings, while surrounding structures experienced minor damage, according to officials.
Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu confirmed that search and rescue operations at the site have been completed. “We foresee that no other citizens remain inside. The injured are in stable condition with no critical health concerns,” Ustaoğlu stated. He further clarified that the explosion was caused by technical reasons, ruling out any possibility of sabotage.
The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors swiftly arrived at the scene to begin investigations. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced via the social media platform X that four public prosecutors have been assigned to uncover the cause of the incident.
Expressing his grief over the tragedy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of 12 of our brothers,” Erdoğan said, revising the initial casualty count. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
Authorities are now focusing on assessing the safety protocols of the facility and ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.
