Turkey steel plant blast death toll rises to 17 after crane collapse

An explosion struck the HABAS steel factory in Aliaga, western Turkey, around midday on November 9, 2026. The blast killed 17 people and injured 13, according to officials.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said investigations would determine how and why the incident happened, whether negligence occurred, and who bears responsibility. He added that two of the injured were in serious condition.

“If the liquid steel falls on water, and it’s 1,800 degrees, a massive explosion happens.”

Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban said the explosion occurred during a boiler replacement operation when an overhead crane collapsed into a large industrial furnace used for liquid steel casting.

Worker Yasin Cetiner told AFP that a crane rope broke and about 120 tonnes of liquid steel fell onto the furnace. He said contact with water-cooled panels caused a hydrogen explosion.

Eyewitness Deniz Ulker described the blast as feeling like an earthquake and said thick smoke and giant flames poured from the factory chimney.

Workers’ groups said HABAS had a long record of safety issues. HABAS declined to answer questions when contacted by an AFP journalist.

Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu later updated the death toll to 17 after one critically injured person died.