Death Toll in Izmir Factory Explosion Rises to 16; Erdogan Launches Investigation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Monday that the death toll from an explosion at a steel factory near the western coastal city of Izmir has risen to 16 people, while 13 others remain injured, two of whom are in critical condition.

Erdogan said in televised remarks: "The circumstances of this tragic incident (...) will be revealed, including the underlying causes, the possibility of negligence, and those responsible."

Preliminary information indicates that an overhead crane fell into an electric arc furnace for melting steel during the process of pouring molten iron.

Firefighting, ambulance, and rescue teams intervened, and investigation operations began to determine the circumstances of the accident.