At least 12 killed in blast at Turkey explosives factory – WSVN 7News | Miami news, weather, sports

(CNN) — At least 12 people were killed Tuesday in an explosion at an explosives and ammunition factory in the Karesi district of Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province, the country’s interior ministry said.

Local authorities ruled out sabotage, CNN affiliate CNN Turk reported.

At least four others were injured in the blast, which also caused the building to collapse, according to the ministry.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X that he was “deeply saddened by the death of 12 of our brothers.”

“I pray to God to have mercy on my fallen brothers, I express my condolences to their families and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded,” Erdogan added. “My condolences to Balikesir and our nation.”

Turkey’s Minister of Justice Yilmaz Tunç said on the X channel that a commission of experts was appointed to determine the cause of the explosion, which includes chemical, mechanical, occupational safety and geophysical engineers.

CNN Turk reports that authorities are trying to confirm how many people were inside the building at the time.