Three killed, 11 injured in explosion in central Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Firefighters try to put out a fire after an explosion at a building in Istanbul's Zeytinburnu district. DHA photos

At least three people were killed and 11 others, one in critical condition, were injured in an explosion on July 12 in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district.

The explosion took place at a packaging workshop located in the basement of a four-story residential building. The building was severely damaged in the blast and partially collapsed.

The three bodies were found by the rescue teams under the rubble hours after the explosion. It was not possible to immediately identify the victims since the bodies were severely burnt, but one of them is believed to be 23-year-old Kader Kılıç, who worked as an accountant at the workshop.
While the reason of the explosion remained unknown, Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, adding that the possible reason was gas leak. Istanbul Gas Distribution Industry and Trade Incorporated Company (İGDAŞ) said in a written statement that there was no natural gas line in the area, increasing the possibility that a problem with the industrial gas cylinders led to the blast.

One of the injured was a pregnant woman, who jumped down from her balcony on the first floor when the explosion took place at the entrance of her building

There were nine to 10 workers at the workshop when the explosion occurred, according to an eyewitness.

“There was a huge explosion, and none of the workers came out of the building,” said 
Niyazi Küçükpazarcık.

Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, Istanbul provincial chair of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) told reporters at the site of the explosion that the incident “clearly shows the lack of inspection of workplaces, especially of those located in residential areas.”