BALIKESIR, Turkey — An explosion at an ammunition factory in northwestern Turkey killed at least 12 people and injured four others on Tuesday, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Officials said an investigation into the cause of the blast was underway.
The explosion, which occurred in the village of Kavaklı in Balıkesir Province, sent a fireball into the air and blanketed the area in thick smoke, as seen in video footage broadcast by CNN Türk. Later images showed the factory reduced to a charred metal skeleton, with much of its structure obliterated by the force of the blast.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and medical teams, were dispatched to the site to contain the blaze and assist victims, Turkey’s communications directorate said. Security forces also arrived to secure the area and aid in the investigation.
Local authorities have not suggested any evidence of sabotage. “At this stage, we have no reason to suspect foul play,” the provincial governor told CNN Türk.
The exact cause of the explosion remains unclear, officials said.
