11 killed in Turkish munitions factory explosion

The death toll from the munitions factory explosion in Balikesir province, northwestern Türkiye, has been revised to 11, with seven others injured, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

"The work (at the production facility) began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) in an area of 700 square meters, and the explosion occurred at 8:27 a.m.. The cause is still unknown," Yerlikaya told reporters.

According to the minister, there is no evidence of sabotage at the explosion.

"An expert team will submit their preliminary report to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which will then disclose the cause of the explosion to the public," he added.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on his X account that a five-member team consisting of specialists in chemistry, mechanical engineering, occupational safety, and geophysics have been appointed to determine the cause of the explosion.

Earlier reports stated that 13 people died and five others wounded in the explosion.

The factory, located in the Karesi district of Balikesir province, began operations in 2014.