One killed, six injured in blast in Ankara gunpowder factory

ANKARA

One worker was killed and six others were injured in a blast in a gunpowder factory in Ankara on May 24.

The blast occurred in the factory of the state-owned Machinery and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) in Ankara’s Elmadağ district at 3 p.m.

Officials have not made a statement about the reason of the blast in the factory’s solid fuel atelier.

Numbers of ambulances and fire crews were dispatched to the scene.

A worker named Emre Özcan, 31, was killed in the blast. Six other workers, including three who were heavily injured, were taken to the hospital.

Following the blast, Ankara governor, Elmadağ district governor, police chief of the district and lawmakers arrived at the scene to gain insight into the incident.

Ankara Governor Ercan Topaca said judicial and administration efforts are looking into the cause of the blast, adding that he expressed his condolences for the killed worker.

Witnesses said the blast could have occurred due to pressured gas in the barrels.