Explosion At Ammunition Factory Kills 12, Injures 4 In Turkey

An explosion at an ammunition and explosives factory in north-west Turkey on Tuesday has killed at least 12 people and injured four others.

The governor of the city of Balikesir, Ismail Ustaoglu, said the blast happened at 8:25am local time (5:25 GMT) in the capsule production section.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the cause was unclear, but authorities had ruled out sabotage.

Videos from the scene showed a fireball erupting from the factory, destroying part of the building, followed by plumes of dark smoke.

Further footage from the aftermath shows mangled parts of steel littering the surrounding area.

The explosion caused tremors throughout the Köteyli township, witnesses told reporters.

Officials said many fire crews were sent to deal with the blaze while health and security units were dispatched to the area.

“I wish God’s mercy upon our deceased citizens and a speedy recovery to our injured,” Ustaoglu said in a post on social media

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said investigation has been launched into the circumstances that led to the blast.