Fatal explosion at HABAŞ steel factory in Aliağa, İzmir

A powerful explosion occurred on Monday morning, November 9, 2026, at the HABAŞ Demir Çelik steel plant in the Aliağa district of İzmir, Turkey. The incident, which triggered a fire at the facility, took place at approximately 11:30 local time. According to the İzmir Governorate, the explosion is believed to have occurred during liquid steel casting operations, potentially due to a crane collapsing into an electric arc furnace. The company stated that the event happened during scheduled maintenance.

The death toll has reached ten, with 15 individuals reported injured, including four in critical condition. Rescue operations were launched to locate four people initially believed to be trapped under debris, with search efforts continuing throughout the site. The Turkish Minister of Justice, Akın Gürlek, initiated a judicial investigation involving four prosecutors to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. Government ministers, including the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, and the Minister of Energy, Alparslan Bayraktar, visited the site to oversee the response.

Authorities continue to clear the facility to ensure no further victims remain, while the company is cooperating with official investigations. While initial reports varied regarding casualty figures as the situation evolved, the latest official updates confirmed ten fatalities and ongoing search efforts.