17 workers killed in Turkey steel factory explosion. Safety complaints at the plant go back years.

Following a furnace explosion at the HABAŞ Iron and Steel Factory in Aliağa, İzmir: 16 people lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/Mjpp8Huv3i

— Miss Jezzabelle (@MissJezzabelle1) November 9, 2026

The blast ripped through the HABAS iron and steel plant in Aliağa, near Izmir, on Monday. An overhead crane reportedly collapsed into an electric furnace during boiler replacement work, triggering the explosion. Seventeen workers were reported dead and at least 12 injured, with rescue operations continuing. President Erdogan has ordered an investigation into possible negligence. But this factory has a history. Workers’ groups have documented previous deaths involving crane failures, falling equipment, explosions and molten steel accidents at the same facilities. At least 11 workers reportedly died there over the past decade before Monday’s disaster. Now investigators have to establish what happened during the maintenance work and who was responsible.

https://bianet.org/haber/explosion-at-izmir-steel-factory-kills-17-325239

https://www.reuters.com/world/steel-plant-blast-kills-3-leaves-10-missing-western-turkey-2026-11-09/